IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


S  ^  IIIL 

^    tiS.    112.0 


12.2 


1.8 


^"^  JM     "  "•* 

1.25      1.4 

1.6 

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6"     - 

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V 


w 


A^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Micrornproductlons  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1^ 


vV 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibiiographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'tnstitut  a  microfiln.4  le  meilleur  eremplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  ete  possible  u<»  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  VU3  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^tl^ode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvertura  de  coulaur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommages 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  peliicul^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  litre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  do  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagees 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Payes  rastaurees  et/ou  pe!liculdes 

r— v^ages  discoloured,  stained  or  f  jxed/ 
I  *!    Pages  ddcolordes,  tachet^es  ou  piquees 

□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachees 

FT^Showthrough/ 
'      I    Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualite  indgale  de  I'impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serree  peut  causer  d«  I'ornbre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmdes. 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalament  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  cnt  *t6  filmdes  i  nouv"«au  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  bolow/ 

Ce  document  ast  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

18X  22X 


10X 


14X 


7 


12X 


16X 


aox 


28X 

30X 

! 

24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

IMetropoiitan  Toronto  Library 
Cai.^dian  History  Department 

The  images  nppearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
i?on,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ►  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IVI.-'ps.  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
g^nirositA  de: 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
Canadian  History  Department 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduiteb  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet4  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exempl&lfbn  originaux  dont  la  couverti^te  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  film6s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  seion  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  f  ilm6s  en  sommen^ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustrntion  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbole  V  signifie  'FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6ue 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  ^tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  11  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


12  3 

^  Q  W  I 

\ 1 1 


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T! 


mma 


\  '<  4- 


if  A  n  MIT  VHUSIT  lUi  HSIT  MliT  BE. 


COMPRISING  A  OiLA-NCE  AT  A  N'BW  PAGE  m  THE  UISTORY  OF 


THE    BRITISH   FROVINGES, 


WITH 


RESEARCHES    INTO  THE 


FISHERY  EXCITEMENT  OF  1851. 


^ 


INDIRECT  DdM^EsftC  MLUENCE, 


OR, 


WliniiMITffllUnflUiMITIliYBE 


COMPRISING 


A  GLANCE  AT  A  NEW  PAGE  IN  THE  HISTORY 
OF  THE  BRITISH  AMERICAN  PROVINCES, 


AND   COMBINING 


SKETCHES  OF  PROVINCIAL  CHARACTER, 

AS  CONNECTED  WITH  THEIR  SOCIAL  ASPECT  AMONG  THE  FIRST 
AND  EARLY  SETTLERSj  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME ; 

BY  A  PROVINCIAL. 


These  are  the  city  gates,  the  gates  of  Rouen, 
Through  which  our  policy  must  make  a  breach  I 

How  great  events  from  small  beginnings  spring. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  MISS  S.  M.  GODFREY,  '•*' 
At  No.  32  Congress  Street, 

1855. 


A  3^ 


H-  o  ^ 


I' 


M 


Fame,  in  the  shape  of   "  somebody, 
By  this  time  all  the  parish  know  it, 
Had  told  that  thereabouts  there  lurked 
A  wicked  imp  they  call  a  Poet, 

Who  prowled  the  country  far  and  near, 
Bewitched  the  children  of  the  peasants, 
Dried  up  the  cows,  ant'  lam'd  the  deer. 
And  suck'd  the  eggs  and  killed  the  pheasants. 

His  highness  heard  the  joint  petition, 
Swore  by  his  coronet  and  ermine. 
He'd  issue  out  his  high  commission, 
To  rid  the  manor  of  such  vermin. 


Gray. 


In  peaked  hoods  and  mantles  tarnished, 
Sour  visages  enough  to  scare  ye, 
High  dames  of  honor  once  that  garnished 
The  drawing  room  of  good  Queen  Mary. 


Gray. 


i 


INTRODUCT ION. 


The  numerouc  disadvantas-es  besetting  tho  pathway  of  the  Colonial  author, 
rsonia  of  which  the  following  compilation  undertakes  to  elucidate  and  depict, 
renders  authorship  an  onerous  and  a  wearisome  task,  rather  th.  n  the  light 
and  pleasant  effort. 

None  of  the  many  incitements  which  allure  the  youthful  Citizen  of  the 
American  Republic,  sustain  the  writer  of  the  Colonial  world  in  that  com- 
petition for  the  palm  which  is  the  leward  of  those  who  elevate  a  country  by 
revealing  the  value  and  the  beauty  thereof,  or  benefit  society  by  exposing  the 
'irking  evils  which  it  is  calculated  too  frequently  to  gloss  over,  or  to  shelter, 
and  leading  on  to  a  higher  appreciation  of  moral  as  well  as  physi'^al  value. 

Having  been  by  untoward  circumstances  rebelliously  drawn  inkward,  it 
becomes  requisite  in  trespassing  upon  the  "indulgent  public,"  to  state  this 
fact  in  exculpation  of  the  crime  of  inflecting  upon  the  satiated  reading  com- 
munity another  book. 

Irresistible  contingencies  may  lead  imperceptibly  onward  and  accumulate 
an  irrestrainable  tide,  and  not  having  rubhed  madly  "into  print,"  being  no 
rapid  enthusiast,  bent  upon  the  promulgation  of  novel  or  abstruse  dogmas, 
but  a  simple  and  straight  forward  Provincial,  collecting,  and  amalgamating 
sketches  of  the  day,  and  writing  for  the  present  time,  the  patience  of  the 
"  mighty  many  headed  monster"  will  undoubtedly  bo  graciously  and  benefi- 
cenily  extended. 

Newspaper  critics  and  oppugners  of  a  certain  locality  may  undertake  to 
confute  this  last  assert-'^^n,  thereby  provoking  the  retort  that  had  the  really 
important  portions  of  the  work  ever  gained  publicity  in  Nova  Scotia,  the  press 
of  the  United  States  might  assuredly  have  claimed  a  debt  of  gratitude,  and 
those  territories  benefitted  equally  with  the  northern  districts  of  the  vast 
American  Continent,  if  a  concise  and  lucid  e  planation  of  peculiar  ineiden 
!je  advantageous  to  throe  great  nations,  or  provide  for  the  protection,  the 
comfort,  or  the  well  being  of  individuality. 


F 


\ 


It  is  a  delicate  subject  to  contrast  the  rapid  advaneo  of  civilization  with 
the  lingering  tinge  of  despotism,  still  hovering  over  the  whole,  and,  by  the 
irresistible  chains  of  self-interest.tiiding  tho  reinstation  of  that  opacity,  from 
which  it  has  so  lately  emerged. 

To  behold  this  relic  of  past  barbarism  wrestling  with  the  universality  of 
the  mighty  engine  advancing  6arth's  progress  in  all  holy  and  good  things, 
which,  like  the  sensitive  cellular  tissue  of  vegetable  life,  shrinks  from  partial 
injury,  suffering  none  the  less  in  the  entirety-has  awakened  the  energy  of 
one  of  the  weakest  of  her  sex,  and  aroused  that  spirit  of  resistance  to  oppres- 
sion which,  self-experiencod,  has  placed  a  woman  in  the  anomalous  position 
of  pleading  for  the  freedom  of  the  press. 

By  lirile  else  can  evil  be  suppressed,  or  good  accomplished  ;  by  nothing 
else  cau  be  preserved  intact,  that  rich  heritage  of  British  liberty,  delegated  by 
British  sovereignty  to  the  Colonies,  and  slight  will  be  tl.e  security  of  the  inhab- 
itants  of  those  Colonies,  from  Tcligious  intolerance,  and  a  crushing  anathema, 
if  they  contend  not  boldly  for  the  pristine  and  permanent  elevation  of  that 
instrument  which  may  in  so  many  ways  be  exercised  for  righteous,  or 
iniquitous  purposes,  and  which,  like  a  sonorous  and  deep  toned  bell,  rever- 
brates  at  the  touch  of  a  pebble,  and  personal  participation  authorizes  this 
decisive  asseveration  as  previously  observed. 

The  Colonial  authorities  who  have  trespassed  upon  public  notice,  are  few 
and  for  between  ;  ^therefore,  must  the  present  one  plead  guilty,  that  so 
weighty  a  matter  be  thrust  upon  them,  rather  than  thai  which  combines 
racy  entertainment,  or  pithy  and  light  amusemmt,  but  giving  an  utterance  as 
it  were  to  the  voif.e  of  the  people,  assuming  to  be  the  medium  of  expressing 
the  predominating  tendency  of  mind,  in  one  of  its  phazcs.  Being  in  heart  and 
life  a  Colonial  subject  of  the  British  Empire,  llmii'="r  with  none  other, 
and  experiencing  in  common,  the  peculiar  wants  and  expectations  of  such 
a  position,  the  necessity  off  uch  a  work  as  this  now  p>-esented,  and  for  the 
free  expression  of  a  gradually  formed  and  accurate  opinion,  can  best  be 
approved  by  a  quotation,  not  more  ancityit  than  classic  learning  may  bestow  ; 
but  from  a  volumo  far  richer  in  aptitude,  and  glowing  with  heavenly  senti- 
ment. The  poetical  scintilations  of  which  outvie,  and  the  inculcated  juris- 
prudence of  which  has  been  the  precursor  of  human  institutions,  and  is 
elevatod  far  above  that  which  aids,  or  assumes  to  do  so,  the  public  man  for 
present  day  eminence  too  frequently  severally  misplased 

"  Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof" 


4 


ilization  with 
,  and,  by  the 
opacity,  from 

iniversality  of 
gootl  tilings, 
:3  from  partial 
the  energy  of 
nee  to  oppres- 
lalous  position 

I  ;  by  nothing 
,  delegated  by 
y  of  the  inhab- 
ing  anathema, 
;vation  of  tlrat 
r  righteous,  or 
ed  bell,  rever- 
luthorizcs   this 


INDIRECT    DOMESTIC    INFLUEKJE. 

A  NEW  PAGE  IN  THE  HISTOR'S^  OF  NOVA  SCOTIA. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Though  silver  salmon  gaily  play, 

And  glad  our  gilded  stas, 
Though  health  on  eveiy  breeze  is  ours, 
Heaven's  blessings  what  are  these. 
If  Canada's  rough  hand  be  raised,  in  remembrance  of  her  slain, 
If  Xova  Scotia  break  her  heart  against  a  grinding  chain. 
We  are  rising !  we  are  risin,'- 

In  intellect's  bold  pov>  er ; 
Simple  means  great  things '      .  ■ 

The  germ,  the  bud,  the  f 
We  hear  you  calling  Uncle  Sam,  youi  •  hills. 

And  we  know  religious  tjTanny  has  Cj.». 


notice,  are  few 
guilty,  that  so 
diich  combines 
in  utterance  as 
of  expressing 
ig  ill  lieart  and 
th  none  other, 
:ations  of  such 
d,  and  for  the 
n,  ciin  best  be 
ig  may  bestow  ; 
leavenly  senti- 
iculcatcd  juris- 
itutions,  and  is 
public  man  for 


Relations  of  facts  and  circumstances  connected  with,  and 
relative  of,  the  position  assumed  and  advocated  by  the  vari- 
ous circles  and  classes  of  social  life,  are  unquestionably  :a- 
teresting.  These  are  welcome  to  the  careless  and  superficial, 
as  well  as^  to  the  philosophical  reader.  And  to  many  they 
are  the  only  history  of  their  own  times  which  is  looked  into 
or  explored.  Little  of  this  style  of  reading  has  as  yet  ema- 
nated from  Nova  Scotia.  It  li  s  partially  v/iihin  the  province 
of  the  daily  newspaper,  which  lives  by  recording  national 
or  inter-provincial  events,  the  boundaries  of  national  polity, 
and  general  additions  to  local  and  scientific  theories.  And 
occasionally  does  the  often  issued  pamphlet  in  furtherance 
of  some  pet  provincial  scheme  of  personal  or  territorial 
aggrandizement,  so  constantly  scattered  through  a  country, 
new  or  old,  tend  to  rhow  how  such  scheme  enters  the  domain 
of  private  life,  and  works,  perchance,  incalculable  evil, 
though  unintentionally. 

The  romancer  and  the  moral  essayist  must  equally  fail  in 
such  topic  as  this.  It  is  a  thing  of  life,  of  feeling,  and  of 
principle  ;  and  truth  can  be  the  only  expositor.     The  expo- 


!l 


r 

• 

sition  of  truth  must  of  necessity  create  enmity,  from  which 
it  is  the  natural    tendency  of  the  timid  to  shrink,  and  un- 
less some  strong,  overpowering  grievance  arouse  an  entire 
country  into  resistance  !     Casual  nnd  domestic  occurrences 
fail   to   impress   very   strongly,  connected  with   reol   evils 
though  they  be,  the  man  Avh'o  boasts  of  high-toned  moral 
principle,  and  whose  position  secures  him  from  vicious  acri- 
mony, and  surrounds  him  with  powerful  friends.     This  is 
more  especially  the  c'«e  in  the  colonies,  which  seek  for  no 
great  standard  of  public  excellence,  but  are  content  to  take 
the  rough  and  the  smooth  of  circumstances  in  humble  imita- 
tion of  their  lofty  and  antique  piogcnitor.     Without  possess- 
ing internally  that  rallying  point  of  paramount  importance 
around  which  may  culminate  the  nobler  tendencies  of  na- 
ture, high,  progressive,  and  religious  sociality  ;  a  star  which 
of  necessity  mtist  increase  in  lustre.      The   observation  is 
trite  and  commonplace  —  that  trifling  circumstances  create 
important  events.     There  ure  few  who  would  willingly  ac- 
knowledge, however,   their  own  accepted  instrumentality, 
for  human  nature  is  ever  willing  to  cast  ofl'  the  responsibility 
incumbent  upon  action.     So  gladly  dp  we  (ling  from  us  that 
spirituality,  that  elevation,  of  feeling,  rendering  life  a  link  of 
eternity  ;  something  above  a  sensual  and  physical  creation  ; 
a  transient  period  of  idle  indulgence ;  a  busy  mart  for  the 
enterprising  merchantman  ;  a  canvassing  around  wherein  an 
eager  placemen  may  search  for  constituents.     Leben  ist  le- 
beii,  says  the  solid,  and  stolid,  and  social-hearted  German. 
Leben  ist  leben  we  repeat,  whether  with  the  wild'man  seated 
beneath   the   dew-hemmed   spruce   trees   of   Nova  Scotia, 
making  his  old  violin  strike  up  a  competuion  with  the  blue- 
-bird^s  note,  and  stoicalb'  philosophi'/.ing  upon  city  life,  where 
"  Work  IS  woiA,  and  k.ding  yourself  all  for  nothing;"  he 
remarks  ;  "  and  when  you  die,  yon  have  got  no  more  than 
me,  dat  never  work  wit  anything."     Life  is  still  life,  and 
nothing  more  ;  though  the  rich  Southern  planter  lounges  in 
the  shade,  and  watches  the  curling  odors  of  his  deUcatc 
cigarette  curving  in  the  atmosphere,  and  schemes,  and  hur 
ries,  and  drives," at  times,  that  he  may  secure  his  thousands. 
Domestic   life  and  home,  with  its  varied  associations,  arc 
they  but  the  boiling  of  the  tea-kettle  in  the  pine  forest  upon 
the  hemlock  bough  ;  the  evening  gossip  and  merry  satire 
upon  the  white  folks  ;  or  is  it  the  united  wealth  of  foreign 


from  which 
ink,  and  un- 
se  an  entire 
occurrences 
h    real   evils 
toned  moral 
vicious  acri- 
ids.     This  is 
1  seek  for  no 
ntent  to  take 
umble  imita- 
hout  possess- 
t  importance 
?ncies  of  na- 
a  star  which 
bservation  is 
ances  create 
willingly  ac- 
itrumcntality, 
responsibility 
I  from  ns  that 
;  life  a  link  of 
ical  creation  ; 
r  mart  for  the 
id  wherein  an 
Leben  ist  le- 
tcd  German. 
ld*man  seated 
Nova  Scotia, 
ivith  the  blue- 
ity  life,  where 
nothing; "  he 
lo  more  than 
still  life,  and 
ter  lounges  in 
f  his  delicate 
mes,  and  hur 
tiis  thousands, 
lociations,  are 
le  forest  upon 
I  merry  satire 
Ith  of  foreign 


lands ;  the  luxuries ;  the  perquisite!  ;  the  pageantry  for 
which  peace  of  mind  and  a  hope  of  fulure  and  spiritual 
happiness  may  have  been  blindly  and  madly  sacrificed .  A 
simple  flower,  unattractive  and  unheeded,  by  the  rondside, 
may  become  the  medium  of  extencive  influence  ;  it  needs 
not  a  mighty  ixxaseular  energy  to  work  out  a  pathway,  for 
God's  providence.     It  is  around,  about,  and  forever  near. 

Needles  and  thread,  pens,  ink,  and  paper,  these  are  sim- 
ple nouns,  and  in  daily  requisitition,  and  with  that  sage 
reasoner,  Thomas  C-^^lyle,  we  echo,  what  would  the  world 
do  without  them  ?  a  reflection  and  a  trueii?m  which  every 
human  being  might  as  thoughtfully,  and  with  as  ^^  ^:^  an 
amount  of  sagacity,  repeat,  and  while  regarding  ft ;  ;vi  h  tie 
articles  as  one  of  the  connecting  links  in  the  comm.ercial 
intercourse  of  nations  in  more  ways  than  one,  we  hear  with 
amazement  of  the  millions  of  human  beings  whose  snpport 
is  derived  from  their  manufactur  . ;  for  Nova  Scotia  stands 
alone  as  far  as  regards  mechanical  or  textile  articles,  as 
also  in  the  generous  combination  of  purpose  which  must 
lead  to  such  a  consummation.  Hitherto  she  has  been  a 
mere  recipient  of  the  intellectual  efforts  of  more  favored 
lands.     A  consumer,  but  not  a  producer. 

Statistical  accounts  of  the  variety  of  branches  of  trade 
requisite  to  the  formation  of  each  individual  article,  whether 
it  be  a  household  appendage  or  ar.  intricate  piece  of  me- 
chanism, attracts  immediate  attention  ;  but  those  who  are  in 
the  habit  of  doubting  the  value  of  trifles,  will  slowly  ac- 
knowledge to  how  great  an  amount,  and  in  how  very  many 
peculiar  "degrees,  and  variety  of  incidents,  a  very  trifle  may 
subserve  the  advancement  of  truth,  the  exposure  of  error. 

We  watch  the  old  huckster  woman  beside  her  stafl. 
surrounded  by  her  nuts  and  candy,  heedless  of  dust-be- 
sprinkled work,  plying  her  ready  steel  upon  the  coeirse  attire, 
which  will  reward  her  industry  with  a  few  extra  pence  ; 
and  its  glittering  emblem  traces  for  itself  a  course  amid 
Brussels  lace,  and  showers  of  glossy  silk  and  glowing 
worsted,  leaving  bright  chaplets  of  unfading  flowers,  bud- 
ding, blooming,  and  expanding,  without  a  seedling  or  a 
germ,  dropped  in  their  pristine  bloom  from  hands  that  have, 
perchance,  never  ministered  to  the  happiness  of  other  than 
their  owner. 

An  embroidered  pin- cushion  may  work  wondrous  things, 


\  8 

however,  and  ttlthongh  modern  perpetrators  in  this  depart- 
ment of  handiwork  have  wonderfully  circumscribed  the 
ancient  system  of  proceedings,  and  fashion  has  ceased  to 
suspertd  the  arras  of  rich  and  vivid  coloring  upon  the 
walls  of  parlor  or  saloon,  enumerated  upon  which  arose  the 
martial  deeds  or  hair-breadth  escape  of  a  father,  a  lover,  or 
a  brother,  emblazoning  each  apartment  with  refreshing  me- 
morials, to  be  gazed  upon  for  a  life-time,  and  handed  down 
to  an  admiring  succession  of  imitators.  The  addiction  to 
the  elegantly  idle  task,  however  much  decried  by  creations 
monarchs,  is  not,  we  are  disposed  to  believe,  altogether  over- 
looked by  them,  nor  is  it  probable  that  they  altogether  dis- 
card an  interest  in  the  art  which  has  made  so  many  sacrifices 
in  doing  homage  to  the  vanity  of  their  sex ;  and  to  which 
the  romancers  of  past  and  present  days  owe  so  much  of 
historical  record,  so  much  traditional  and  social  incident. 

In  these  money-seeking  and  practical  times  of  ours,  we 
idle  not  eaoh  minute  in  empty  homage,  or  vapid  boastfulness, 
or  warlike  enterprise.  The  wheels  run  sAviftly,  and  much 
is  unfinished,  or  but,  as  it  were,  scarcely  commenced.  — 
There  seems  to  be  an  arising  impression  that  the  shadows 
are  declining  upon  the  dial-plate :  —  that  the  closing  hour 
o-^proaches.  Wonderingly  we  inquire  concerning  the  occu- 
pation of  our  progenitors  in  past  times,  and  the  philan- 
thropist eagerly  and  anxiously  i.eeks  to  amalgamate  the 
dispersed  particulars  of  useful  enterprise,  that  the  motto 
may  be  exemplified,  whatsoever  thine  hand  findeth  to  do, 
do  it  with  all  thy  might. 

We  write  our  history  as  wc  go,  and  the  :^*emembranc(?s 
thereof  spring  up  around  us  in  no  visionary  shapes.  Our 
imagery  must  be  moral  progress,  for  the  signs  of  the  horo- 
scope are  marked  and  strange ;  and  overpowering  excite- 
ments  are  working  and  seething  beneath  the  surface  for 
present  and  future  participation.  For  now  and  then.  Acquis- 
itiveness is  abroad,  also,  in  the  more  enlarged  and  extended 
form,  and  much  of  future  moral  benefit  must  obtain  endur- 
ance through  the  mighty  workings  of  expediency,  for  cacli 
p-roduetion  1 1'  nature  or  of  art  is  now  valued,  not  by  an 
intrinsic  estimate,  but  according  to  what  they  "will  bring." 

The  world,  in  one  wild  race  commingling,  scarcely  now 
stops  pantingly  to  study  the  i)roportions  of  statuary,  or  the 
glories  of  a  painting,  because,  perchance,  the  very  ideal  of 


9 


I  this  depart- 
rnscribed  the 
las  ceased  to 
ng  upon  the 
lich  arose  the 
2r,  a  lover,  or 
efreshing  me- 
handed  down 
!  addiction  to 

by  creations 
together  over- 
iltogether  dis- 
lany  sacrifices 
and  to  Avhich 
3  so  much  of 

II  incident. 

s  of  ours,  we 
I  boastfulness, 
V,  and  much 
)mmenced.  — 
t  the  shadows 
closing  hour 
ling  the  occu- 
d  the  phihin- 
algamate  the 
at  the  motto 
indeth  to  do, 

emembranc(?s 
shapes.     Our 

of  the  horo- 
rering  excite- 
e  surface  for 
hen.  Acquis- 
and  extended 
obtain  endur- 
?ncy,  for  caeli 
d,  not  by  an 
"will  bring." 
scarcely  now 
ituary,  or  the 

very  ideal  of 


the  beautiful  thereon  still  lingers.  Neither  will  it  pause 
before  a  tinted  end  blended  specimen  of  ancient  skill  and 
honored  genius,  because  thereby  an  abstract  idea  is  conveyed 
to  the  mind.  Even  the  embroidering  a  wreath  of  fruits  or 
flowers  must  have  a  purpose,  and  what  is  the  good  of  it : 
That  good  will  it  do,  too  frequently  resounded  upon  all  sides, 
reveals  a  mighty  principle  in  the  workings  of  society,  which 
the  hurry  of  the  moment  permits  not  the  exphcation  of. 

Even  now  I  may  be  tracing  a  destiny  for  those  who  little 
dream  it,  for  the  age  of  contention  of  physical  strength  has 
passed  away,  and  calm,  soul-searching,  unprejudiced  intel- 
lect has  taken  her  place  in  the  lists.  Nation*  of  the  world, 
and  the  powers  of  hell,  rush  to  the  onset.  But  all  heaven, 
and  tlie  hosts  thereof,  are  the  witnesses,  and  God  above  is 
the  arbitrator.  And  will  the  result  be  uncertain  ?  Does 
evil  always  have  the  pre-eminence  ?  Whatever  the  earlier 
history  of  earth  may  reveal,  the  existing  record  of  the  last 
three  centuries  as  strongly  refute  it.  Three  centuries  !  It 
is  but  an  atom  in  the  gloomy  arena.  And  intellect  perverted 
is  fearful  in  th6  dominion,  and  remorseless  in  exercise.  And 
pure  and  sacred  principle  must  have  its  deadly  foes.  Weak 
is  our  faith.  But  God  —  the  guider  of  this  instrument,  is 
Ahuighty. 

Where  is  the  youthful  heart  which  does  not  bound 
at  the  mention  of  that  magic  and.  eastern-sounding  cog- 
nomen, a  bazaar  ?  A  bazaar  !  How  delightful.  See 
the  nmititude  of  nimble  fingers  had  in  requisition.  See  the 
heaps  of  silk,  and  nett,  tinsel  and  beads,  and  velvet,  and 
other  feminine  delights  and  vanities.  But  what  miracles  of 
dolls  emerge  from  the  combination.  What  gay  pictures 
glitter  also  on  the  mental  vision  of  gas-lit  halls.  Fresh 
ilowers,  gay  music,  ices  in  abundance,  lots  of  pleasant 
social)ility,  and  aflabiliry,  and  not  a  small  degree  of  vanity, 
among  the  weaker  portion  of  the  assistants,  when  the  "  ap- 
pearance behind  the  tables "  is  discussed.  And  in  this 
complicated  excitement  how  frequently  is  the  working  pur- 
port almost  overlooked,  or  seen  but  indirectly,  while  the 
intricate  influences  may  go  on  'extending,  and  extensively 
urging,  to  do  whatsoever  ihine  hand  fhideth  to  do  !  for  there 
is  a  time  and  a  season,  wherein  by  high  and  low  tendencies, 
by  human  nature's  holiest,  or  most  peurile  passions,  must 
the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  be  erected  and  advanced  upon 
earth. 


!fr~' 


i 


;|f* 


10 

What  young  girl,  with  head  bent  over  a  bead  bag,  with 
attention 'absorbed,  the  gas  jet  showering  its  rays  around 
her,  suffers  her  imagination  to  wander  to  the  busy  quay, 
deside  which  the  tarry-breasted  merchant-ship  bounds  up 
and  down,  making  deep  gulphs  in  the  cold,  blue  walers, 
impatient  for  its  flight,  and  nerved  to  meet  the  tempest? 
While  carelessly  tossed  amid  the  bales  of  goods,  the  pack- 
ages, the  trunks,  and  the  barrels,  lie  the  strong,  smooth  deal 
boxes,  directed  to  an  agent  in  one  of  the  colonial  cities, 
revealing  not  to  the  idle  gazer  that  the  "  Light  which  has 
Hghtened  the  Gentiles"  is  contained  therein.  That  indus- 
trious hands  and  kindly  hearts  have  been  at  work,  and  that 
the  entire  gathering  and  the  dispersion  has  been,  and  is  to 
be,  effected  by  that  combination  of  feminine  skill,  a  bazaar. 
The  childlike  vanity,  the  glorying  self-love,  the  delight  in 
display,  has  been  controlled  by  a  governing  hand.  But  the 
result  is  not  yet. 

Thunders  roar  and  lightnings  flash  around  the  dark  hull 
of  the  merchant-ship ;  and  the  too  often  as  dark  mind  of 
the  jaded  and  brine-soaked  sailor.  The  light  in  the  binna- 
cle grows  red  and  redder,  and  then  seems  quite  extin- 
guished ;  and  then  flickers  so  palely  that  it  seems  more  a 
shadow  in  the  distance  than  part  and  parcel  of  the  ship. 
Just  as  the  light  contained  in  those  white  boxes  shall  glim- 
mer and  flicker  over  the  wild  plains  of  the  country  to  which 
they  are  being  conveyed,  well  nigh  extinguished  at  times, 
but  still  clinging  kindly  to  the  creature  it  is  sent  to  conduct, 
through  the  storms  and  billows  of  life,  to  the  quiet  port  of 
heaven. 

Many  men  have  embarked  their  speculations  of  various 
value.  The  ship's  cargo  is  rich,  and  rich  will  dotibtless  be 
the  returns,  when  the  Canadian  pine  board,  and  the  New 
Brunswick  hemlock  and  ash,  are  converted  into  gold. 
Truly,  trade  must  change  the  face  of  nature.  But  what 
would  be  the  position  of  traflic  and  civilization,  were  it  not 
for  the  influences  contained  in  those  white  boxes  ?  By 
these  are  the  little  white  church,  the  meeting  house,  the 
school  house,  the  asylum  for  the  aged,  erected ;  and  there, 
so  snugly  packed,  they  lie  in  the  hold  of  the  tarry  merch^vjt- 
ship.  We  know  what  the  trade  of  ancient  times  lias 
wrought.  That  its  records  are  few  and  faint,  and  that  one 
little  volume  has  survived  the  wrecks  of  ages,  strangely 
preserved  by  its  greatest  enemies. 


11 


lead  bag,  with 
',  rays  around 
le  busy  quay, 
ip  bounds  up 
,  blue  walers, 
the  tempest  ? 
ods,  the  pack- 
r,  smooth  deal 
lolonial  cities, 
ght  Avhich  has 
That  indus- 
v'ork,  and  that 
sen,  and  is  to 
ikill,  a  bazaar, 
the  delight  in 
and.     But  the 

,  the  dark  hull 
dark  mind  of 
in  the  binna- 
3  quite  extin- 
seems  more  a 
1  of  the  ship, 
es  shall  glim- 
jntry  to  which 
ihed  at  times, 
nt  to  conduct, 
e  quiet  port  of 

)ns  of  various 
il  doubtless  be 
and  the  New 
ed  into  gold, 
re.  But  what 
»n,  were  it  not 
boxes  ?  By 
ig  house,  the 
id ;  and  there, 
rry  merchavjJ- 
nit  times  lias 
,  and  that  one 
ges,  strangely 


Go,  herald,  go,  ii6  pageant  thee  a^Yaits, 
No  flatter)'  thy  self-love  elevates ; 
Weak  hearts  rejoice,  oh  teach  the  fallen  to  soar. 
Thou  art  thy  master's  servant.     Be  no  more. 
FiW  through  the  forest  hoar  thy  horse  hoofs  ring, 
Breaks  the  calm  grandeur  of  the  stern  frost-kuig. 
Wide  spreads  the  cabin  door,  'neath  green  fir-trees, 
Where  anxious  watchers  thy  glad  coming  sees. 

The  strife  is  over.    Time  with  thee  has  fled. 

And  glory  hai^  another  numbered. 

High  above  thunders  roar,  the  lightning's  gleam, 

Heaven  is  revealed,  thy  hope  is  not  a  droam, 

Go  thou  encircled  by  the  diadem. 

Of  saving  mercy,  and  love's  glorious  gem. 


The  wide,  white,  snow  waste  of  a  new  country  lies 
around  the  pathway  of  the  missionary.  But  his  course  is 
onward !  or  should  be.  Is  he  not  civilization's  honored 
herald  ?  Niglit  sets  in.  Still,  still,  only  that  bleak,  white 
waste,  stretching  out  before,  behind,  beside,  the  incident  of 
a  poorly  settled  country,  so  cheerless,  so  appalling  to  the 
denizen  of  the  crowded  city.  But  the  message  from  God 
has  to  be  delivered  to  the  scattered  flock,  and  some  are 
even  here. 

Yonder  point  of  land  stretches  far  out  into  the  tossing 
billows.  The  roaring  sea  proclaims  an  approaching  storm. 
How  welcome  to  the  tired  traveller  is  the  fire-gleam  from 
yonder  dark,  decaying  hut.  The  small,  squre  window  is 
approached.  The  jaded  horse  partakes  his  maslv^r's  glad- 
ness, and  energetically  plunges  into  the  deep  and  pathless 
piles.  Strong  contrast  to  his  former  feeble  efforts.  Who 
would  expect  to  hear  the  sound  of  the  violin,  the  heavy 
tramp  of  fishermen's  boots,  in  a  real  right  down  earnest  jig 
upon  such  a  floor  as  that  ?  Who  would  be  prepared  for  the 
piles  of  cards  well  thumbed,  half-worn  ?  Who  would  ex- 
pect to  see  the  blue  delf  saucer  of  half  pence  ?  Or  the 
heaps  of  barrels,  and  the  kegs  stowed  among  the  old  rafters  ? 
There  is  work  here  for  a  missionary  !  And  plenty  of  room 
for  one  treasure  of  that  tarry  ship.  And  one  volume  may 
become  an  angel  messenger.  For  the  long,  low  bows  out- 
lined in  the  bay,  force  a  conviction  upon  the  mind  of  the 
missionary,  that  he  is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lawless  trafficker. 
He  has  found  a  smuggler's  den. 


12 


R  .  ' 


And  here  may  the  work  of  civilization  commence.  There 
is  ready  welcome  for  man  and  horse.  And  good-natured 
listeners,  ready  for  anything,  v/herewith  to  "  Help  pass  the 
time,"  and  not  unwilling  recipients  of  good  impressions. 
The  present  is  one  means  of  varying  the  struggle  for  sub- 
sistence. And  among  the  changes  of  colonial  life  they  may 
become  farmers,  householders,  and  respectable  members  of 
country  villages.  They  are  by  no  means  bound  down  to 
crime,  as  are  the  poor  of  older  oountries.  Yet  is  their 
crime  not  lessened  by  the  fact,  as  some  of  them  will  frankly 
acknowledge.  An  1  when  at  day  dawn  the  missionary  and 
his  audience  sepai-fite,  it  is  with  mutual  kindly  wishes,  with 
thanks  for  his  warning,  even  his  reproof.  But  they  dread 
not  the  consequence  of  his  discovery,  for  many  a  weary 
mile  lies  before  him  with  a  jaded  horse,  and  the  smugglers 
have  the  trackless;  ocean  in  which  to  choose  a  path. 

But  confidence  has  been  reposed.  The  pearl  of  price 
has  been  deposited.  And  though  the  fruit  be  unrevealed 
until  eternity  shall  gather  in  its  harvest,  the  missionary 
knows  that  it  will  never  altogether  fail.  For  'that  by 
high  and  lo\s^,  by  the  gold  of  kings,  and  by  the  farthing  of 
the  poor,  by  the  wildest  human  passions,  and  the  glorious 
outpourings  of  the  spirit,  the  Creator  shall  be  glorified.  The 
Bibles  gathered  by  the  bazaar  table  shall  do  their  work, 
whether  they  lie  upon  the  rich  scarlet  cushion  of  the  church 
chancel,  or  find  a  home  in  the  camp  of  the  Indian,  battling 
there  with  the  W''d,  demoniacal  superstition  so  frequently 
uniting  with  Popish  error.  It  is  not  in  the  crowded  city, 
amid  the  whirl  of  wheels,  and  the  rush  of  business  that  we 
expect  the  appalling  fallacies  of  the  heated  nn'nd,  and 
warped  brain,  where  traffic  Avrites  strong  lines  upon  hard 
faces,  where  science  lights  her  votaries  to  wealth,  and  all 
unite  in  pursuits  calculated  to  elevate  a  country. 

Human  nature  has  a  tendency  to  inertness,  or  to  over- 
exertion, and  we  fondly  think  that  superstition  has  been 
driven  to  lurk  despised  and  disregarded  among  earth's  dark 
and  dismal  places.  Willingly  would  we  forget  that  it  is 
still  a  living  principle,  capable  of  being  brought  by  able 
hands  into  the  broad  daylight  and  set  to  do  its  work.  That 
the  strong  German  mind  has  been  so  wrought  upon  by  this 
poison,  as  to  warp  administration  at  the  bar  ot  justioe  in 
open  courts.     After  enduring  all  that  man  could  endure 


13 


imence.  There 
d  good-natured 
Help  pass  the 
)d  impressions, 
truggle  for  sub- 
al  life  they  may 
)le  members  of 
)Ound  down  to 
.  Yet  is  their 
em  will  frankly 
missionary  and 
lly  wishes,  with 
But  they  dread 
many  a  weary 
1  the  smugglers 
L  path, 
pearl  of  price 
be  unrevealed 
the  missionary 
For  'that  by 
the  farthing  of 
id  the  glorious 
glorified.  The 
do  their  work, 
I  of  the  church 
Indian,  battling 
I  so  frequently 
crowded  city, 
usiness  that  we 
ted  nn'nd,  and 
nes  upon  hard 
vealth,  and  all 
try. 

jss,  or  to  over- 
:ition  has  been 
ig  earth's  dark 
3rgct  that  it  is 
fought  by  able 
ts  work.  That 
ht  upon  by  this 
r  of  justioe  in 
I  could  endure 


and  live  of  Papal  persecution,  and  a  domineeringly  vicious, 
though  religious  faction,  with  resignation  of  long  loved 
homes,  of  clustering  associations,  of  venerated  and  almost 
adored  usages,  that  it  s\vept  like  a  pestilence  through  hberty- 
loving  England,  while  vain-glorious  and  pedantic,  James 
the  First  celebrated  his  "  wonderful  and  mighty  deliverance  " 
from  Popish  treason,  to  which  he  had  been  appointed,  as  a 
•'  sheep  to  the  slaughter."  We  read  a  provincial  writer's 
account  of  the  strange  blending  of  ignorance  in  our  North 
American  Micmac  tribe  of  Indians,  v/ith  ancient  supersti- 
tion and  modern  Romanism.  How  the  one,  grafted  upon 
the  other,  they  flourished  together,  a  strong,  and  vigorous, 
and  remarkable  opponent  of  revelation.  And  we  doubt 
not  for  a  moment  that  it  forms  one  of  the  many  fangs  of 
the  greedy  dragon  opposing  upon  earth  the  kingdom  of  the 
Messiah  with  indomitable,  undismayed  perseverance,  and 
an  assurance  which  forbearance  only  increases. 

It  is  this  capacity  of  seizing  upon  one  passion  or  faculty 
of  the  mind,  and  without  casting  the  others  into  oblivion. 
Working  with  that — leading  it  on  unsuspectingly  to  give  an 
aid,  for  or  against,  sometimes  with  an  apparent  desire  to 
gratify,  when  gratification  is  the  object  sought,  and  again, 
to  repress,  control  or  deter,  when  systematic  action,  govern- 
ed by  Scriptural  principle,  is  to  be  subverted,  that  this  power 
so  admirable  in  its  united  viciousness,  works  !  The  perfec- 
tion of  perverted  intellect.  In  the  female  mind  the  senti- 
ment of  fear  may  be  easily  excited  and  predominate.  Its 
effect  is  the  destruction  of  will  and  resolution.  Men  may  be 
blinded,  and  prejudiced,  and  misled.  It  is  the  same  tei:den- 
cy  diircrently  acted  upon.  But  just  as  often  avarice,  dom- 
inancy  and  selfishness,  are  exercised  for  their  purposes  by 
those  masters  of  human  nature — Papal  Priests. 

How  tenaciously  the  mind  of  the  writer  has  been  drawn 
to  this  subject,  is  exemplified  in  the  foUo^ving  pages,  the 
eager  suppression  of  \Yhat  was  foolishly  considered  a  love  of 
authorship;  a  seeking  notoriety  by  literary  divertisement. 
A  vain-glorious  emulation.  From  whence  was  inferred,  of  ne- 
cessity, a  desire  for  pre-eminence  which  must  obtain  in  a 
small  community.  And  this  with  a  connection  of  local  sub- 
jects with  Protestant  principles,  and  the  prompt  extinction 
as  the  basis  of  the  remedy  sought  for.  These  erroneous  and 
incompatible  proceedings  arc  elucidated  in  a  narration  which 


rW 


:*i 


Jf 


ll 


1:T     i 


14 

may  appear  egotistical.  It  is  but  a  supposition  of  the  mo- 
tives of  continuous  aggression. 

The  decision  to  submit  these  facis  to  the  public  is  strength- 
ened by  a  sense  cf  dnty  to  society,  to  the  cause  of  revelation 
and  humanity,  as  well  as  a  conviction  that  greater  security 
lies  in  publicity  th^n  in  silonce.  That  which  relates  to  the 
well-being  of  life,  must  be  known,  that  it  may  be  apprecia- 
ted, and  though  strongly  advised  by  the  timid  to  desist  from 
such  a  purpose,  the  very  singularity  and  triviality  of  the  cir- 
cumstances gave  redoubled  strength  to  suspicion. 

Weak  advisers  may  deter  ;  influential  individuals  may 
control  and  subvert ;  but  the  question  still  remains  and  be- 
comes one  of  moment,  that  vice  should  ever  be  permitted 
the  pre-eminence,  while  correct  opinion,  or  that  which  is 
based  upon  Protestantism,  must  be  forced  back  abashed  and 
confounded. 

Be  it  then  distinctly  and  definitely  understood,  that  though 
individuality  may  be  substantiated,  not  a  single  individual  is 
decisively  convicted  of  an  agency  in  a  system  of  espionage 
calculated  to  set  at  defiance  all  human  ties,  all  sacred  bonds, 
by  a  controlling,  subverting  and  established  system.  A  sys- 
tem which  has  been  the  glory  of  dark  and  barbarous  ages, 
which  may  be  at  any  time  revived,  and  which  might,  in  a 
very  transient  period,  totally  change  the  tone  of  civilization. 

A  succession  of  peculiar  or  distressing  vexatioi;s  arising 
without  any  apparent  reason,  does  not,  though  traced  to  the 
originators,  necessarily  convict  of  a  lack  of  principle.  Prej- 
udiced and  erroreous  partizanship  will  ever  disown  collu- 
sion. The  only  remedy  therefore  must  lie  in  ai\  appeal  to 
elevated  and  advanced  principle,  to  display  in  the  ab- 
stract the  binding  and  extensive  unity  prevailing,  the  quiet 
endurance  of  which  may  be  the  precursor  of  mighty  and  un- 
mitigated evils. 

It  may  be  about  thirteen  years  ago  that  having  visited  a 
friend  residing  in  the  city  of  H.  I  remained  the  greater  part 
of  the  summer  of  that  year  an  ininate  of  her  establishment, 
and  an  associate  of  many  of  her  acquaintances.  Being  a 
distant  connection  of  some  branches  of  my  mother's  family, 
an  intimate  acquaintance  had  of  course- previously  subsisted 
for  many  years.  A  gentleman  who  has  by  Roman  Catholic 
liberal  suflirage  attained  the  highest  civil  position  it  is  hi  the 


:! 


on   of  the  mo- 

iblic  is  strength- 
ise  of  revelation 
;reater  security 

relates  to  the 
ay  be  apprecia- 
1  to  desist  from 
ality  of  the  cir- 
non. 

idividuals  may 
mains  and  be- 
r  be  permitted 

that  which  is 
ck  abashed  and 

)od,  that  though 
^le  individual  is 
n  of  espionage 
I  sacfed  bonds, 
system.  A  sys- 
)arbarous  ages, 
lich  might,  in  a 
I  of  civilization. 
xatioiiS  arising 
ih.  traced  to  the 
)rinciple.  Prej- 
r  disown  collu- 
i  an  appeal  to 
lay  in  the  ab- 
iling,  the  quiet 
mighty  and  un- 

iving  visited  a 
the  greater  part 
■  establishment, 
ices.  Being  a 
Mother's  family, 
ously  subsisted 
loman  Catholic 
it  ion  it  is  hi  the 


I 


15 

gift  of  the  Nova  Scotian  people  to  bestow,  and  who  was  also 
a  relative  of  the  person  above  alluded  to,  was  together  with 
his  wife  and  her  friends,  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  same  house. 

Having  been  long  an  inhabitant  of  a  country  village  upon 
one  of  the  sea-ports,  distant  from  the  city  of  H.  some  sixty 
miles,  the  change  to  varied  bustle  and  a  succession  of  amuse- 
ments, was,  of. course,  exceedingly  delightful  to  one  who 
had  known  much  of  monotonous  seclusion  and  quiet  atten- 
tion to  domestic  duties,  while  the  quickness  of  observation 
usually  fostered  by  such  a  position,  found  endless  occupation 
among  the  varied  shades  and  diversities  of  character,  with 
which  it  necessarily  came  in  contact. 

Whether  or  not  a  harsh,  dogmatical  tenor  may  not  also  be 
engrafted,  is  left  for  the  reader  to  judge.  It  is  very  possible 
that  a  being  so  situate  1  may  possess  the  purest  tone  of  pat- 
riotism, altogether  free  from  selfishness,  which  humanity  can 
ever  possess  or  partake  of,  or  association  engender. 

This  phase  of  feehng  has  been  the  precursor  of  advance- 
ment in  our  neighbors  across  the  tempesluors  Bay  of  Fundy  ; 
it  has  neither  been  comprehended  or  sustained  in  the  gener- 
alities of  Colonial  life,  because  their  system  has  widely  dif- 
fered. 

At  that  time  I  was  as  careless  as  are  most  other  young 
women,  of  anything  but  passing  affairs,  and  the  amusements 
of  the  moment.  And  here  I  cannot  but  remark  with  regret, 
the  pernicious  nature  of  the  system  of  female  colonial  edu- 
cation, ha  /ing  deeply  and  personally  experienced  it.  The 
means  of  subsistence  being  attainable  without  much  diffi- 
culty among  the  better  and  middling  classes,  a  limited  in- 
come almost  procuring  the  luxuries  of  life,  women  have,  for 
the  most  part,  little  cause  for  mental  or  physical  exertion. 
Little  mental  cultivation  is  bestowed  upon  them,  and  nothing 
obtains  favor  beyond  showy  accoiuplishments,  and  the  Very 
merest  smattering  of  intellectual  pursuits ;  and  a  woman 
who  evinces  any  desire,  or  a  taste  for  literature,  has  been 
regarded  as  an  a^iomaly,  almost  an  absurdity  in  creation. 

A  vast  amount  of  time  then  is  thrown  upon  the  hands  to 
be  frittered  idly  away  ;  to  be  spent  in  empty  chit-chat  and 
frivolity  ;  to  be  cut  up  into  visits  among  elderly  ladies,  whose 
lives  having  been  passed  in  a  similar  manner,  tbey  eagerly 
discourage  any  change  or  innovation  in  the  juni'ir  members 
of  society. 


I 


We  know  not  how  much  cause  political  men  in  older 
countries  have  to  dread  female  interference  in  their  especial 
domain.  There  must  be  danger  where  a  thing  is  so  con 
stantly  decried.  This  one  thing  is  certain,  it  must  be  a 
strong,  singular,  and  extraordinary  event  which  will  draw  a 
woman  of  Nova  Scotia  sufficiently  forward  to  even  give  an 
opinion  unreservedly,  still  less  to  undertake  the  responsibility 
of  influencing  othcis.  Perhaps  if  it  were  not  so,  this  coun- 
try might,  ere  this,  have  attained  a  higher  position  ;  for  there 
are  many  parts  of  a  topic  upon  which  a  silent  observer  is 
capable  of  forming  a  correct  opinion,  just  from  the  fact 
of  being  wholly  and  pecuniarily  uninterested.  But  the 
powers  of  the  mind  being  totally  uncultivated,  or  left  in  rich 
but  uncalled-for  profusion.  The  habit  of  fascinating  idleness, 
becomes  positively  habitual.  The  aversion  to  dwell  for  many- 
minutes  at  a  time  upon  serious  subjects,  is  indulged  irremed- 
iably. The  entire  errors  of  a  life-time  inculcation,  are  hard 
to  overcome ;  and  if  ever  the  hour  of  action  arrive,  it  is 
more  than  dreaded,  it  has  been  totally  unprepared  for.  Of 
what  use,  then,  is  religious  principle  to  such  a  person  ? 
Speaking  of  the  young,  they  cannot  bring  it  practically  to 
bear  upon  practical  life.  It  must  fall  back  and  expire.  It 
must  become  inanition,  and  not  the  vital  gem  of  hallowed 
hopes.  It  must  shrink  from  collision  with  those  very  subjects 
which  it  is  the  most  beautiful  part  of  religion  to  elevate,  to 
influence,  even  to  control.  The  race  must  be  left  to  the 
swift,  and  the  battle  to  the  strong,  and  those  •  must  and  will 
stand  aloof  whose  dearest  interests  are  at  stake.  For  the  af- 
fairs of  a  country's  advancement  are  not  for  a  day  alone. 
They  spring  from  eternity,  and  go  onward  to  meet  one. 
It  is  not  the  struggle  only  of  position,  wealth,  and  authority, 
it  is  the  contention  of  light  with  darkness ;  vice  with  holi- 
ness. We  do  not  presume  to  say  that  religion  should  be 
taken  from  its  own  domestic  sanctuary  to  be  tossed  into  the 
ballot-box,  but  would  not  society  be  more  generally  im- 
proved if  this  bright  star  were  permitted  to  govern  it  more, 
and  to  culminate  ? 

My  early  training  having  been,  then,  upon  the  customary 
code  above  elucidated,  I  think  the  only  powerful  tendency 
of  my  mind  was  a  warm,  devoted,  and  admiring  adherence 
to  the  Episcopal  Protestant  Church  form  of  worship,  and  an 
intense  admiration  of  the  beauties  of  Nova  Scotia  scenery, 


t^-vmm 


men  in  older 
I  their  especial 
ing  is  so  con 

it  must  be  a 
3h  will  draw  a 
)  even  give  an 
e  responsibility 
t  so,  this  coun- 
ition  ;  for  there 
!nt  observer  is 

from  the  fact 
ed.  But  the 
,  or  left  in  rich 
lating  idleness, 
dwell  for  many 
ulged  irremed- 
ition,  are  hard 
)n  arrive,  it  is 
pared  for.  Of 
ch  a  person  ? 
t  practically  to 
nd  expire.  It 
n  of  hallowed 
5e  very  subjects 

to  elevate,  to 
be   left  to   the 

must  and  will 
e.  For  the  af- 
'  a  day  alone. 

to  meet  one. 
and  authority, 
/ice  with  holi- 
gion  should  be 
tossed  into  the 

generally  im- 
overn  it  more, 

the  customary 
erf[d  tendency 
ring  adherence 
/orship,  and  an 
Scotia  scenery, 


17 

Its  traditionary  legends,  and  its  old  settler  stories  ;  knowing 
nothing  and  caring  less  for  the  political  position  of  that 
Church,  such  as  she  is  in  the  British  Colonies,  and  such  as 
she  has  been.  I  was  willing  to  take  it  for  granted  that  as 
her  tenets  are  pre-eminently  Scriptural,  so  her  ministers  were 
devoted  to  truth,  unconnected  with  predominance.  That  in 
her  system  so  antique  and  courtly,  there  was  entire  security 
from  every  error,  and  reason  for  perfect  reliance. 

I  had  not  been  long  resident  in  the  city  of  H.  at  the  house 
at  which  I  was  a  visitor,  without  perceiving  that  this  predi- 
lection excited  marked  notice  among  the  connected  circle 
already  alluded  to.  But  being  perfectly  heedless  of,  and 
utterly  indifferent  to,  the  various  struggles  for  power  going 
on  in  the  Province,  I  heeded  it  very  little,  and  no  deep  im- 
pression waa  at  that  time  experienced. 


CHAPTER  II. 

There's  nae  luck  about  the  Imsc  ! 
There  is  nae  luck  at  a', 

When  the  auld  hat  blinks  in  the  window's  light, 

And  the  chimney's  stuffed  wi'  stra'. 
Then  its  hey  up  the  chimney  pot,  hey  after  you 

In  search  of  an  ingle  bra. 

Tliere  is  nae  luck  abou'  the  hus, 

When  the  aul  mon's  eyes  are  blinkin' ! 
When  the  clerk  an  tlie  parson  die  on  the  grate, 

It  shows  tliat  the  times  are  o'er  late ; 
^\ji  that  folks  must  tak  to  thinliin' 

When  the  sjiark  has  died  in  the  ingle  nook. 
Then  it's  hey  and  away,  for  another  to  look. 

Heligious  intolerance  will 

"  Put  a  girdle  round  the  earth  in  forty  minutes." — Siiak. 

Nova  Scotia  being,  as  one  of  her  most  eminent  and  dis- 
tinguished statemen  has  felicitiously  observed,  "just  like  the 
fingers  of  a  hand,"  and  occujjying  a  peculiar  and  important 
place  upon  the  verge  of  the  bkie  Atlantic,  it  has  been  a  mat- 
ter of  serious  inquiry  why,  ^vith  so  many  varied  facilities  for 
traffic,  commerce  and  intercourse,  with  the  great  human 
family  ;  so  imperfect  a  knowledge  of  the  internally  working 
organism  of  its  social  'ife  has  Supervened. 

How  frequently  has  the  weary  traveller,  and  the  gaun- 
dised  denizen  of  the  burning  po:?sessions  of  the  Eastern  Con- 
tinent paused  upon  her  hill-sides,  that  his  fevered  brow  may 
be  cooled  by  her  encirclinfj  breezes,  and  his  overstrained  and 
too  lavishly  tasked  energies  be  calmed  and  soothed  by  con- 
templating the  exquisite  scenery  for  which  she  has  been  so 
celebrated,  said  to  be  Italian,  in  its  soft  insinuating  loveli- 
ness, its  luscious  reaction  if  dare  obsure. 

Is   it  then  all  in  vain,  her  wild  promonlaries   stretch 

out  far  into  the  turbulent  l  that  her  rivers  teeming  with 
shining  and  joyous  vitality,  .  .ow  their  silver  tracery  about, 
around,  beyond,  and  through  everything,  that  her  capes  and 
jutting  peninsulas,  and  shady  coves  dotted  with  the  birchen 
iiamp  of  the  Indian,  and  fringed  with  drooping  alder,    in 


19 


w's  light, 
ifter  you 


M 

le  grate, 


;  nook, 
ook. 


minutes." — Siiak. 

nineiit  and  dis- 
ci, "just  like  the 
r  and  important 
has  been  a  inal- 
■ied  facilities  for 
e  great  hatnan 
ernally   working 

and  the  gaun- 
tlie  Eastern  Con- 
vered  brow  may 
overstrained  and 
soothed  by  con- 
she  has  been  so 
sinuating  loveli- 

lontaries  stretch 
rs  teeming  with 
^r  tracery  about, 
at  her  capes  and 
with  the  birchen 
Doping  alder,    in 


the  friendly  covert  of  which  the  privateersman  of  some  fifty 
years  ago  lande?l  his  ill-gotten  wealth,  and  bestowed  it  in 
some  mossy  nook  or  buried  it  deep  beneath  the  sod.  And 
while  these  all  speak'  loudly  to  the  strap  :  and  the  sojourner 
of  a  day,  are  those  whose  home  associations  are  part  and 
parcel  of  the  same,  to  continue  the  only  spectators  uninter- 
ested ;  and  as  each  hill,  and  bay,  and  inlet,  and  grassy 
mound,  and  green  island,  "utters  forth  a  glorious  voice"  of 
adoration  to  the  beneficent  Creator,  "are  the  living  to  be 
alone,"  silent,  and  the  wild  romance  which  the  literature  of 
other  lands  eagerly  seizes  upon,  and  appropriates  as  a  valued 
heir-loom,  marking  progression,  and  forming  bright  beacons 
upon  the  cliffs  of  time,  to  lie  moulding  in  inerlion,  as  do  the 
many  pleasing  historical  incidents  of  past  provincial  interest 
among  the  time-warped  voliimes  of  her  absolete  statutes. 

Italy's  classic  recollections  have  given  bright  constellations 
to  an  admiring  world  ;  and  the  wild  legends  and  rugged 
mountains  of  Germany,  have  been  the  household  words  of 
milder  climes.  A  Goethe,  a  Mozart,  a  Handel,  have  aided 
the  advance  of  civilization.  The  Ranz  Des  Vaches,  of  the 
Swiss  Cowherd,  has  resounded  through  her  fertile  valleys, 
and  among  the  snovtr-capped  Alps,  reverberating  and  repeated 
in  the  hacmatac  shade  of  North  America,  and  upon  her 
rocky  and  storm-scathed  coast.  The  songs  of  the  mountain 
and  the  heather  have  received  an  indying  tone  from  the 
stirring  memories  of  a  thousand  years.  And  the  meadows 
and  rural  way-side  cottages  of  England  have  taught  her 
children  their  well  learned  song  of  Home,  Sweet  Home. — 
But  the  bright  skies,  the  blue  lakes,  the  shady  groves,  the 
fragrant  water-lillies,  of  Nova  Scotia,  are  yet  untold  of,  and 
unsung.  Even  the  dashing,  pushing,  driving,  go-ahead 
dovvn-easter  or  south-wester  in  our  contiguity  pauses  one 
moment  in  the  rush  onward,  and  Avhile  tuning  his  violin  to 
yankee  doodle  relates,  unweariedly,  to  untired  audiences,  the 
exploits  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  the  Battle  of  Orleans,  while 
Nova  Scotia  claims  for  herself  but  small  participation  in 
nature's  outpourings,  meanwhile  seeking,  too  hnmbly  seek- 
ing, a  share  in  her  gifts  to  others. 

If  it  be  true  that  the  scenery  of  a  land    calls  the  voice  of 
poetry  into  being,  that  it  creates  and  cultivates  a  literature, 
that  this,  blending  with  the  daily  event,  the  legislative   deci«. 
sion,   the  municipal    enactment  becomes  a  nation's  glory, 


20  • 

and  her  pride,  the  strong  bulwark  of  philanthropic  institu- 
tions ;  the  safe  conductjof  a  people,  thougfl  the  shoals  and 
straits,  invented  by  wily  diplomatists,  for  the  advance  of 
aggression,  then  has  home,  s\  eet  home,  been  indeed  incul- 
cated in  multitudinous  and  multiplied,  and  yet  beloved 
accentuation  ;  and  the  mistress  of  the  isle  of  the  ocean  has 
received  the  grateful  incense  of  wayward  generations. 

Of  a  surety,  such  a  task  has  been  heaven-instilled,  and  the 
people  who  appreciate  the  mental  acumen  w  hich  may  become 
great,  even  in  their  depreciation,  who  shrink  not  from  the 
pure  satire,  treading  upon  the  footprints  of  false  judgment, 
upon  the  stringent  sarcasm  which,  in  a  single  paragraph,  may 
attect,  and  bear  down  upon  a  desperate  grievance,  and 
adrrinister  at  the  same  time,  a  remedy;  in  the  terse  and 
pithy  epigram,  or  motto,  by  which  the  complete  '■  mullum  in 
Parvo"  may  be  impressed  or  obtained,  are  of  a  sterling  value 
in  the  same  ratio  with  the  author. 

The  incidents,  the  reference  to  which  has  been  commenced 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  having  transpired  through  the 
period  of  Provincial  history,  in  which  the  question  of  respon- 
sible government  began  to  be  agitated,  and  the  appointment 
of  native,  rather  than  British  officials  to  public  elevations, 
and  civil  control,  it  becomes  necessary  to  enter  into  some 
explanatory  relationsi  as  to  the  supposition  influence  which 
might  have  been  brought  into  contact,  had  a  free  scope  been 
permitted  ^  iu.  unfettered  perceptions  of  a  competent  and 
judici  "     \'\,i   :nene^^euc  community. 

The  system  referred  to  may  be  the  basis  of  a  christian 
advancement.  It  may  also  be  produclivN  in  an  unhallowed 
grasp,  of  the  most  vicious  and  infamous  ransaetions,  inas- 
much as  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  generally  existing 
order  of  things,  and  the  circles,  classes,  divisions  and  degrees 
of  men  inhabiting  a  country,  may  be  turned  to  vast  account, 
particularly  if  the  intimacy  have  subsisted  for  a  lifetime.  If 
business  considerations  or  habitual  sociality  has  erected  a 
continuous  intercourse,  and  "  individuality"  may  thus 
become  fatally  a  masonic  symbol. 

The  detriment  must  obtain  by  that  evidence  which  must 
already  have  been  suggested  to  the  mind  of  my  reader  — 
namely,  denominational  precedence.  This  fearful  and  en- 
^croaching  evil  which  theological  and  dogmatical  old  England 
has  many  a  time  and  oft  rushed  to  the  onset  against,  while 


( 


I 


mthropic  institu- 
i  the  shoals  and 

the  advance  of 
en  indeed  incul- 
md  yet  beloved 
)f  the  ocean  has 
jnerations. 
-instilled,  and  the 
hich  may  become 
nk  not  from  the 

false  judgment, 
e  paragraph,  may 
!  grievance,  and 
in  the  terse  and 
)Iete  '■  multum  in 
ofa  sterling  value 

been  commenced 

red   through   the 

lestion  of  respon- 

the  appointment 

public  elevations, 

enter  into  some 

influence   which 

a  free  scope  been 

I  competent  and 

?is  of  a  christian 
in  an  unhallowed 
ransactions,  inas- 
generally  existing 
sions  and  degrees 
d  to  vast  account, 
or  a  lifetime.  If 
ity  has  erected  a 
ility"  may     thus 

ience  which  must 
of  my  reader  — 
s  fearful  and  en- 
jtical  old  England 
jet  against,  while 


21 

cherishing  internally  on,  and  violently  entering  the  lists  for  the 
preservation  of  the  liberties  of  the  world.  This  overbalancing 
scourge  which  has  'mpressed  bloodshed  a»id  destitution  in  its 
pathway,  and  bestowed  upon  ihe  glorious  western  world  of 
America,  —  an  intellectual  and  swaying  multitude,  vas»  as 
the  sand  of  the  sea  in  number,  has  taken  a  firm  foothold 
upon  the  colonial  soil  unquestioned  in  priority,  Mtiheeded  in 
position,  because  a  "small  community  could  not  but  flinch' 
from  the  expose  of  an  indolent  pliability. 

Irish  Catholic  suffrages  having  increased  so  greatly,  within 
the  last  few  years,  have  rendered  it  a  rather  questionable 
thing,  as  to  whether  Nova  Scotia  is  to  be  nothing  more 
than  a  "delightful  little  tea  garden,"  or  a  continental  water- 
ing-place, to  the  entire  hemisphere,  as  some  of  our  many 
very  sanguine  well- wishers, am  ong^the  retired  half-pay  officer 
list  have  so  egregiously  fancied  in  which  a  delightful  littk 
circle  of  "  just  ourselves  and  two  or  three  others"  might  ^o 
safely  instituted,  exactly  as  we  do  at  home,  "  A  sort  of  pre- 
siding coterie  of  domestic  deities  self-elected." 

The  entire  amount  of  marching  and  counter-marching  of 
scheming  and  manoeuvering  needful  to  the  obtaining  the 
desired  independence  above  referred  to,  was,  it  is  to  be 
believed,  but  inadequately  comprehended  by  the  masses,  and 
but  slowly  acquiesced  in,  save  by  the  immediate  dispensers 
of  the  delegated  boon,  or  the  more  expectant  recipients  of 
the  benefit.  'Tis  true,  the  columns  of  the  weekly  newspaper 
teemed  with  voluminous  despatches  to  the  mother  country, 
combining  the  language  of  humility,  with  that  of  bravado, 
which,  asa  matter  of  necessity,  ladies  were  in  self-compassion, 
desirous  of  dispensing  with  lamenting,  meanwhile  the  der- 
eliction from  the  well  beaten  path  of  love  and  murder t 
stories  upon  the  part  of  the  publisher.  But,  "  whaj;  all  the 
fuss  about  nothing  was  to  end  in,  or  what  it  was  all  to  come 
to  after  all,"  we  only  cared  to  ask  without  troubling  our- 
selves to  wait  for  an  answer.  "  Only  hoping  fervently,  by 
way  of  consolation,  that  we  should  not  ue  given  up  to  those 
horrid  creatures,  '  the  Yankees,'  without  being  aware  of  the 
fact,  until  the  deed  -vas  irretrievably  accomplished." 

These  ideas  emanating  from  the  wives  and  daughters  of 
those  who  had  swayed  our  "  tea  garden"  for  near  half  a  cen- 
tury, of  course,  won  a  rapid  currency,  without  any  depre- 
ciation of  the  standard  estimate,     and  as  each   year  sped 


'P 


onward,  the  grand  desideratum  became  ultimately  attained  ; 
and  Re3{X5nslbIe  (?rovernment  has  been  amalgamated  with 
our  now  changing  interests,  and  blended  with  our  insti- 
tutions. In  some  measure  it  was  acknowledged  as  altoge- 
ther embracing  the  requirements  of  a  new  country,  but 
gradually,  and  at  lengh  definitely,  the  once  ambigous  ques- 
tion became  adirmatively  responded  to  "  may  it  not  Ije  ren- 
dered a  great  curse." 

A  handful  of  interested  individuals  upheld  and  controlled, 
by  a  deiiomiMatlonal  clique,  may,  by  employing  and  enforc- 
ing pre-eminence,  possessing  no  scriptural  basis,  or  one 
winch  is  liable  to  daily  and  hourly  misconstruction,  become 
the  ineradicable  originators  and  sustainers  of  a  complete  sys- 
tem of  espionage,  and  at  once,  and  together,  be  the  death 
knell  of  Protestantism  and  freedom  of  conscience. 

Bitter  experience  suggests  these  comments  upon  passing 
things;  where  defined  division  exists,  not  in  the  individual 
mind  and  conscience,  there  must  be  preponderating  influence. 
Slight  diversties  are  a  very  nonentity,  a  constant  succession 
may  be  instituted  as  an  understood  thing,  as  a  religious  usage 
in  fact,  and  if  those  who  are  interested  in  sustaining  so  cor- 
rupt a  vehicle  of  injurious  polity,  take  umbrage  at  such  an 
unrestrained  invasion  of  thei.-  securely  guarded  domain,  let 
them  not  overlook  the  fact  that  endurance  has  its  bounds, 
let  them  remember  that  the  world,  the  wide  spreading  uni- 
verse may  be  deeply  concerned  in  such  a  subject,  equally 
with  the  little  territory  which  so  firmly  grasps  the  ocean  at  a 
given  signal,  for  it  involve  j  that  v.'hich  is  by  all,  but  the  bar- 
barian, acknowledged  as  the  only  true  standard  of  truth  and 
peace,  and  is,  by  its  unwearying  assailants,  technically 
termed  the  liberties  of  tlie  people. 

The  v^st  and  scarce  developed  countries,  the  wealth  and 
resources  of  which  have  formed  the  subject  of  endless  discus- 
sion and  furnished  material,  for  many  works  bearing  upon- 
statisticts,  upon  physical  characteristics,  and  great  political 
controversies,  are  still  in  their  denominational  characteriza- 
tions, which  have,  for  a  period  of  time  extending  far  into  the 
past,  exercised  an  unsuspdcted  impulsion  upon  other  lands, 
proudly  and  boastingly  sustaining  it  as  the  premised  basis  of 
loyalty.  But  in  reference  to  an  explicit  comprehension  of 
such  a  topic,  the  colonies  are  an  intricate,  a  complicated, 
and  a  sealed  volume. 


ir- 


23 


mately  attained ; 
lalgamated  witii 
with  our  insti- 
dged  as  altoge- 
w  country,  but 
ambigous  ques- 
ly  it  not  Ije  ren- 

1  and  controlled, 
ying  and  enforc- 
,i  basis,  or  one 
ruction,  become 
f  a  complete  sys- 
3r,  be  the  death 
;ience. 

its  upon  passing 
n  the  individual 
jrating  intluence. 
istant  succession 
a  religious  usage 
ustaining  so  cor- 
)ragc  at  such  an 
rded  domain,  let 
:  has  its  bounds. 
3  spreading  uni- 
subject,  equally 
ps  the  ocean  at  a 
all,  but  the  bar- 
idard  of  truth  and 
ants,   technically 

,  the  wealth  and 
of  endless  discus- 
ks  bearing  upon- 
id  great  political 
nal  characteriza- 
nding  far  into  the 
ipon  other  lands, 
premised  basis  of 
jomprehension  of 
:,  a  complicated, 


There  must  be  a  cause  for  such  an  effect,  for  untiring 
watchfulness,  for  rigid  surveillance,  for  continuous  internal 
animosity,  and  a  certain  succession  of  events,  which  may,  or 
may  not  rapidly  progress,  which  may  sooner  or  later  attain  a 
climax,  may  receive  the  doubtful  cognomen  of  a  denomina- 
tional crisis.  Thi^  crisis,  if  it  transpire,  will  eventually  change 
the  tenor  of  local  and  general  things,  should  of  necessity,  be 
gifted  with  a  voice,  but  when  every  effort  to  facilitate  an 
explication  is  at  once  crushed  upon  the  native  soil,  it  is  but 
natural  to  seek  new  channels  of  intercourse  with  the  outer 
world,  and  for  necessity  we  turn  to  a  land  possessed  of  a 
more  advanced  and  cultivated  tone.  A  facility  of  utterance 
which  the  fates  have  denied  these  older  countries  of  dealing 
with  a  university  of  hope  and  elevation  of  mind  which  the 
voice  of  the  people,  and  an  unrestrained  press  can  alone 
elucidate. 

When  great  occurrences  transpire,  and  their  origination  is 
silenced,  when  a  line,  a  sentence,  a  paragraph,  is  checked  in 
the  publication  thereof,  when  a  word  is  controled  in  the  utter- 
ance, conclusion  must  be  unfavorable  as  to  the  justice  of  the 
opposition,  the  national  integrity  existing  but  nominally,  and 
the  reliance  of  a  people  upon  a  system  they  have  early 
learned,  to  reverence  from  attachment  ^o  usages  which  have 
become  an  heirloom,  and  cherished  devotion  to  the  father- 
land, must  be  at  times  sorely  shaken. 

A  dearth  of  local  literature  weakens  the  attachment  of  a 
people  to  their  country,  home  vexations  cannot  be  fairly 
dealt  with,  therefore  arises  discontent.  The  lower  classes  of 
society  being  thrown  aside  from  competition,  perfectly  aware 
of  their  exigencies,  but  utterly  unable  to  cope  with,  or  over- 
come them,  hastily  renounce  the  hercrlean  task,  and  wander 
away  to  seek  life's  sustenance,  without  a  grievous  contention 
for  it  elsewhere.  And  by  such  a  stringent  and  vicious  policy  as 
this,  has  the  United  States  of  America  become  inundated  by 
people  from  the  lower  colonies,  where  great  re^  irces  lie 
dormant,  and  bound  down  by  a  chain  of  iron,  twice  blended. 

It  was  at  a  time  Avhen  the  social  elements  of  England,  of 
the  United  States  and  the  British  Provinces  were  jarred  by  a 
shade  of  hostility  upon  a  once  genial  horizon,  that  the  writer 
of  the  present  work  was  restiained  from  inserting  in  the  Per- 
iodical of  a  certain  locality,  the  following  sentence,  intended 


24 


as  the  commencement  of  a  series  of  articles,  tending  to  throw 
light  upon  the  then  absorbing  topic  of  the  day. 

"It  is  not  generally  known  that  the  late  Fishery  Disturb- 
ances were  based  upon  a  principle  which  more  than  two 
centuries  ago,  then  a  little  band  of  heart-broken  wanderers 
threw  upon  a  foreign  and  inhospitable  shore,  there  to  endure 
privation,  suffering,  and  death,  rather  than  the  grinding 
slavery  of  Religious  intolerance  and  absolutism." 

The  whirlwind  of  excitement  which  followed  the  event 
above  alluded  to,  is  now  numbered  with  the  past,  as  also  the 

faint  counterpart  accrueing  in  the  city  of  H ,  where  the 

originators  of  the  scheme  rejoiced  with  impunity.  Stringent 
measures  had  undoubtedly  been  called  for,  yet,  few  knew 
why  it  so  unexpectedly  and  violently  arose,  it  becomes  not  a 
woman,  nor  is  it  consonant  with  her  tendencies  to  trespass 
upon  the  subject  of  national  traffic,  her  best  interests,  and 
those  mostconj^jnial  to  her  nature,  are  incident  with  local, 
domestic  and  religious  sentiments.  These  are  dear  to  the 
vast  human  family,  and  when  grossly  tampered  with,  it 
becomes  a  needful  duty  to  step  from  privacy,  and  lay  bare 
the  connecting  link  which  so  extraordinarily  reacts  upon  that 
individual  comfort,  and  upon  national  greatness  and  inter- 
course, and  by  which  the  balance  of  power  may  be  in  a 
moment  overthrown,  and  a  way  paved  for  aggression,  and 
thus  regarding  the  passing  and  local  interests  of  that  period 
in  the  light  which  should  have  been  dispensed  ;  but  die  fall- 
ing rays  of  which  scarcely  glanced  along  the  darkness,  and 
only  made  it  visible,  the  fact  became  but  too  glareing,  that  in 
the  armed  force  which  Nova  Scotia  sought,  and  obtamed 
from  the  mother  country,  for  the  protection  of  her  Fisheries, 
there  was  no  proof  of  the  providing  care  which  should  have 
guarded  her  interests,  since  her  first  settlement,  but  one  of 
the  most  complete  Papal  aggressions  which  England  has  ever 
been  the  instrument  of  perpetrating  against  a  free  people  and 
a  holy  principle. 

The  resentment  of  a  conservative  nation  has  been  fre- 
quently aroused  against  the  baleful  influence  which  may  yet 
work  her  own  destruction,  and  has  undoubtedly  involved 
her  in  many  vast  and  expensive  wars,  in  this  instance,  an 
influence  little  suspected  was  brought  to  bear  upon  her  very 
constitution,  and  desperate  struggles  might  have  supervened 
nvolving  the  happiness  and  well-being  of  the  one-third  of 


25 


jnding  to  throw 

• 

ishery  Disturb- 
nore  than  two 
ken  wanderers 
there  to  endure 
I  the  grindmg 
m." 

wed  the  event 
)ast,  as  also  the 
— ,  where  the 
nity.  Stringent 
^et,  few  knew 
becomes  not  a 
ies  to  trespass 
interests,  and 
snt  with  local, 
re  dear  to  the 
pered  with,  it 
,  and  lav  bare 
eacts  upon  that 
less  and  inter- 
may  be  in  a 
ggression.  and 
1  of  that  period 
1 ;  but  ihe  fall- 
darkness,  and 
jlareing,  that  in 
,  and  obtanied 
■  her  Fisheries, 
2h  should  have 
nt,  but  one  of 
igland  has  ever 
free  people  and 

has  been  fre- 
which  may  yet 
itedly  involved 
,s  instance,   an 

upon  her  very 
ive  supervened 
he  one-third  of 


the  known  world,  and  while  every  press  in  either  interested 
portion  of  the  hemisphere,  teemed  with  allusions  to  the  tooic 
and  expressions  of  irritation  or  wounded  pride,  that  of  Nova 
Scotia  was  alone  and  utterly  silent. 

But  it  is  needful  to  return  to  the  narration  of  the  previous 
chapter.  During  the  visit  to  my  friends  house,  I  found  it  a 
most  unpleasant  circumstance,  that  a  tendency  of  mind,  with 
regard  to  religious  form  of  worship,  should  constantly  pro- 
voke stricture  and  discussion,  and  that  the  Prayer  Book  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  so  highly  reverenced  and  deeply  ven- 
erated, should  be  daily  analysed  and  criticised,  with  the 
evident  purpose  of  drawing  forth  argument  and  expressions 
of  opinion,  which  were  duly  repeated  to  the  gentleman  to 
whom  I  have  alluded,  at  each  subsequent  visit,  to  be  received 
by  comments  from  him,  by  concise  and  curt,  and  pointed 
rejoinder,  it  was  also  exceedingly  unpleasant  that  a  ready 
and  quick  observation  of  things,  and  people,  and  character, 
was  daily  and  constantly  registered.  This  might  have  been 
the  kind  attention  of  friendship,  had  it  not  been  indubitably 
stamped  by  the  most  complete  and  rapid  surveillance. 

Biit  I  stood  not  alone  in  this  subjected  scrutiny,  and  many 
other  persons,  who  little  dreamed  m  which  way  their  words 
were  scanned,  and  misinterpreted,  while  absent,  and  which 
though  carelessly  and  unheedingly  uttered  were  treasured 
up,  to  be  eagerly  brought  to  bear  against  them  at  some 
future  time.  And  those  who  have  obtained  a  high  position 
through  the  last  few  years,  by  liberal  party  patronage,  have 
worked  for  it  by  the  sacrifice  of  the  most  kindly  feelings  of 
humanity,  by  the  outrage  of  holy  principle,  and  the  suppres- 
sion of  accurate  statement.  They  have  strangely  worked  for 
it  by  warped  judgement  and  blighting  injury  to  those  nearest 
them,  and  drawn  to  them  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity. 

The  Church  Episcopal,  was  not  the  only  one  which 
appeared  to  be  reprehensible  to  this  rising  clique,  whose  bye- 
word  was,  and  is  still  Toryism,  and,  to  an  individual  who 
habitually  regards  with  reverence  ,  every  sectarian  institu- 
tion which  is  founded  upon  a  pure  revelation,  it  seemed  an 
extraordinary  circumstance,  that  individuius  attacks  should 
be  so  insparingly  hurled  at  the  Methodist  body  of  the  inhab- 
itants, and  the  Baptist  denoinination  brought  forward, 
as  a  fitting  and  right]  object  of  stigma,  After  years 
explained  all.     There  was  a  gradual  division  being  effected 


ir 


26  ♦ 

throughout  the  country,  a  gathering  of  the  dry  bones,  in  the 
valley  of  indecision,  and  the  absolute  need  of  reliable,  capa- 
ble and  leading  minds,  was  daily  and  hourly  exciting  a  con- 
fidence wherever  it  might  evidently  be  most  securely  reposed. 

The  City  of  Halifax,  was  at  that  time  inundated,  as  it 
were  by  an  arrival  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Priests,  and  French 
gentlemen  of  noble  birth,  or  of  good  family,  whose  stay  was 
but  cursory,  and  who  seldom  or  never  returned  again.  The 
seminary  dedicated  to,  or  known  by  the  appellation  of  St. 
Mary,  was  getting  fast  into  efficient  operation,  and  aid  was 
bestowed,  and  existed  in  connection  with  some  of  the  most 
wealthy  families  in  the  country,  and  the  projectors  and  sus- 
tainers  of  that  institution.  Frequent  opportunity  was  afforded 
of  forming  conjectures  as  to  the  ultimate  object  sought  by 
these  people,  as  many  of  them  resorted  constantly  to  the 
house  ai  whiclf  I  was  visiting,  and  several  of  the  Priests  con- 
cerned in  carrying  forward  the  project,  and  giving  future 
efficiency  to  the  establisiiment,  resorted  constantly  to  the 
house  at  which  I  was  visiting,  accompanied  by  students  who 
were  preparing  to  take  orders  in  the  Papal  Church.  They 
dropped  in  socially  in  the  evening,  and  made  informal  and 
accidental  calls  in  the  morning,  previous  to  the  usual  fash- 
ionable visiting  hour,  nor  was  this  opportunity  of  gaining 
some  insight  into  character,  as  it  exists  nidividually,  in  a  class 
of  persons  who  constantly  attract  the  attention  of  the  laity 
heedlessly  disregarded. 

Daily  topics,  and  local  interests,  trifling  chit  chat,  and 
gossip,  mingled  wiih  |)layful  gester  or  repartee,  were  but  too 
evidently  not  the  decidedly  native  forte  of  these  men,  and 
but  little  discrimination  was  requisite,  leading  to  the  inference 
that  education  had  been  lavishly  bestowed  upon  a  productive 
and  fertile  soil.  They  were  men  far  above  the  customary 
standard  to  which  we  assimilate  the  Papal  heirarchy,  men 
of  acute  and  vigorous  intellect,  possessed  of  subtle  minds, 
familiar  with  every  subject  that  was  brought  to  their  atten- 
tion, and  at  home,  as  regarded  each  topic  which  chance  or 
fancy  might  draw  upon  the  tapis. 

Thoroughly  versed  in  the  art  of  pleasing,  courteous  and 
courtly  in  manner,  which  wore  no  mere  semblance  of  gloss 
or  an  adventitious  polish,  and  was  apparently  the  reflection 
of  a  sterling  luster,  the  condescending  familiarity  so  assumed 
which  so   frequently  in  other  persons,  immediately  disen- 


27 


y  bones,  in  the 
reliable,  capa- 
exciting  a  con- 
curely  reposed, 
undated,  as  it 
sts,and  French 
vhose  stay  was 
2d  again.  The 
(ellation  of  St. 
I,  and  aid  was 
le  of  the  most 
ictors  and  sus- 
ty  was  afforded 
ect  sought  by 
istantly  to  the 
he  Priests  con- 
I  giving  future 
istantly  to  the 
)y  students  who 
I^hurch.  They 
informal  and 
he  usual  fash- 
lity  of  gaining 
ually,  in  a  class 
•n  of  the  laity 

chit  chat,  and 
c,  were  but  too 
bese  men,  and 
to  the  inference 
on  a  productive 
the  customary 
lieirarchy,  men 
subtle  minds, 
to  their  atten- 
bich  chance  or 

courteous  and 
blance  of  gloss 
y  the  reflection 
irity  so  assumed 
lediately  disen- 


chants,   was,    m    this    instance,    doubly    enhanced,    neither' 
deteriorating  the  respect  which  we  anxiously  profferred  ihem, 
or  detracting  an  iota  from  their  evidently  great  merit. 

They  likewise  possessed  an  agreeable  and  momentary  tact 
of  drawing  forth   playful   discussion,   quite  consonant  with 
youthful  propensities,   and   participating  in  the    wishes    or 
attainments  of  those  who  are  frequently   passed  by  in  gay 
society,  as  being  of  a  more  sombre  mood,  and  but  sbghtly 
given    to   levity.     Light  conversation,   however,  invariably 
took  a  firmer  tone,   and  assumed  a   graver  import,  and  a 
species  of  argument,  and  fanciful  controversy,  which,  while 
exciting  reflection,  seldom  attained  to  definitejor  concise  con- 
clusions,  leaving  a   vague  and    dissatisfied   restlessness,    a 
rambling  of  the  faculties  as  it  wer*^,  a  desire  for  some  tangi- 
ble and  determined  end,  a  nervous  doubtfulness,  which  was^ 
always  ungratified,  inasmuch  as  having  elicited  this  state  of 
mind,  the  conversation  was  always  broken  through  suddenly 
by  either  of  the  gentlemen,   suddenly  recalUng   a  pressing 
engagement  at  the  other  end  of  the  city. 

At  other  times  we  were  indulged  with  delightful  com- 
ments upon  our  country,  leading  gradually  to  allusion,  res- 
pecting individual  and  native  character,  and  particular  per- 
sons, their  names,  their  pursuits,  their  probable  intentions, 
which  was  a  marked  proof  of  disinterested  friendship,  and 
also  a  remarkable  one,  supposing  these  gentlemen  to  have 
visited  the  city  of  H upon  their  own  private  and  parti- 
cular business.  Domestic  life  in  all  and  every  of  its  colonial 
phases,  its  intense  destitution,  its  positive  demands,  was  not 
forgotten,  neither  were  circumstances  of  local  domesticity,  or 
general  and  political  interest.  Dissertations  on  character 
were  to  a  great  extent  mingled  with  these,  but  an  adroit 
checking  of  unguarded  warmth,  a  ready  capacity  of  chang- 
ing the  conversation,  a  facility  for  soothing  and  stifling  irri- 
tation,  if  by  any  means  it  became  excited,  were  additional 
reasons  for  a  rejoicing  in  such  acquisitions  to  our  ;  circle, 
equally  with  the  fact  that  we  were  the  envy  of  less  favored 
mortals,  in  whose  power  an  expensive  entertainment,  or  a 
possibility  of  proffering  an  elegant  reception,  lay  not. 

These  men  were  a  new  study  for  one  of  the  uninitiated  so 
guarded,  yet  so  perfectly  at  ease,  so  profuse  a  cultivation  of 
each  power  of  the  mind,  will  memory  and  judgment.  So  lavish 
a  storing  from  valuable  authors,  and  recondite  speculators. 


/ 


28 


and  while  a  marked  resemblance  most  extraordinarily  sub- 
sisted, there  was  yet  an  intense  diversity,  and  still  while 
exacting  favor  as  it  were,  by  main  force,  and  eliciting 
unbounded  gratification  and  gratulation,  by  the  bestowal  of 
their  society  upon  us,  a  sensation  of  distrust  and  uneasiness 
was  inculcated,  by  the  zeal  and  ofRciousness  in  tracing  out, 
and  evidently  very  deeply  sympathising  in  each  predeliction 
of  every  chance  visitor,  or  each  inmate  of  the  household,  nor 
was  my  vanity  at  all  gratified  by  the  observation  that  this 
attention,  while  it  was  gratuitously  bestowed  upon  the  heads 
of  the  establishment,  was  as  freely  and  unrestrainedly  lav- 
ished upon  myself. 

The  children  of  the  family  won  by  their  insinuating  address 
and  benevolent  smile,  soon  learned  to  repose  confidence, 
respecting  their  simple  troubles,  while  each  of  the  domestics 
appeared  to  share  in  the  same  ratio  with  ourselves,  this 
highly  flattering  condescension,  nor  was  self-esteem  to  any 
extent  soothed  by  the  fact  that  general  reading  matter,  and 
selections  of  books  excited  their  observation.  At  that  time  the 
novel  reading  community  was  inordinately  delighted  by  a 
perfect  inundation  of  the  very  worst  descriptions  of  light 
literature,  which  was  poured  in  with  unsparing  hnnd,  upon 
the  general  library  to  which  the  family  had  access.  This  is 
as  a  matter  of  course,  stored  with  standard  works ;  but  few 
young  ladies  will  devote  much  attentibn  to  such,  while  they 
are  at  liberty  to  weep  or  laugh  over  the  imaginary  joys  or 
sorrows  of  visionary  beings,  or  can  amuse  their  waiting  maids 
with  a  recital  which  will  serve  to  keep  them  in  a  good 
humor,  and  dispose  them  to  become  more  eflScienl  and  ready 
operatives. 

This  literary  romance-mania,  was  frequently  adverted  to 
by  our  Papal  annotators  in  an  easy  jocular  vein  of  pleas- 
ant humor,  which  had  the  effect  of  eliciting  additional  infor- 
mation as  regarded  character,  mental  tendencies,  and  so 
forth,  and  a  vast  amount  of  incautiousness  and  sociality  of 
feeling  becamo  quite  imperceptibly  inculcated,  though  sev- 
eral of  the  works  of  fiction  brought  from  the  circulating 
library  through  their  hinted  instigations,  and  upon  which 
youthful  heads  in  turn  reposed  upon  at  night  for  a  week  at 
the  very  least,  were,  most  leniently  speaking,  unfit  for  waste 
paper. 

Again,  conversing  with  evident  freedom  upon  the  literature 


29 


rdinarily  sub- 
nd  still  -svhile 
and  eliciting 
e  bestowal  of 
nd  uneasiness 
1  tracing  out, 
h  predeliction 
lousehold,  nor 
Ltion  that  this 
ipon  the  heads 
trainedly  lav- 

uating  address 
se  confidence, 
the  domestics 
mrselves,  this 
isteem  to  any 
g  matter,  and 
.t  that  time  the 
delighted  by  a 
)tions  of  light 
ig  h;ind,  upon 
■cess.  This  ie 
orks ;  but  few 
ih,  while  they 
jinary  joys  or 
'  waiting  maids 
m  in  a  good 
;ienl  and  ready 

y  adverted  to 
vein  of  pleas- 
Iditional  infor- 
ncies,  and  so 
id  sociality  of 
d,  though  sev- 
he  circulating 
I  upon  which 
for  a  week  at 
anfit  for  waste 

a  the  literature 


./ 


of  the  day  as  it  existed  throughout  the  British  Empire  and  the 
United  States,  from  whence  a  quantity  of  tracts  upon  infidelity 
and  in  favor  of  open  discussion  of  the  subject  had  emenated 
the  subverting  effect  of  latitudinarian  views,  was  loudly  in- 
veit'hed  against,  while  the  matter  was  brought  home  to  our- 
selves quite  gratulatorily  that  we  possessed  not  so  useless  or 
pernicious  a  flood  of  originality  as  the  source  whence  these 
emanated,  and  which  must  end  in  a  total  anarchy  of  moral  and 
religious  sentiment,  as  a  matter  "  par  necessite,"  and  with  the 
ever  inquisitive  newspaper,  our  love  for  our  father  land  would 
remain  undiminished,  and  our  principles  remain  unimpaired. 

However,  Avhen  at  times  our  wounded  patriotism  traced 
enviously  the  elevation  which  a  native  literature  he- 
stowed  upon  other  lands,  we  were  soothed  by  remarks  to 
the  effect  that  though  Nova  Scotia  possessed  as  yet,  no 
controlling  mind,  no  swaying  and  reliable  intellect  capable 
of  revealing  to  a  sympathizing  universe  our  wants  and  wish- 
es, our  anticipations  and  projects,  our  feelings  or  imperfec- 
tions, we  must  hope  for  the  best.  The  beam  of  the  bright 
particular  star,  the  envied  advent  of  which  wcs  thus  precur- 
sorily  announced  by  the  denizens  of  a  far-away-land,  whose 
disinterested  interest  in  the  future  late  of  our  country  filled 
our  hearts  with  gratitude  inexpressible,  was  to  be  more  than 
usually  efTulgent,  and  the  rays  thereof  to  be  refracted  and 
reflected  in  the  meanest  as  well  as  the  most  exalted  .intel- 
lect, and  that   as  .such  desperately  rapid  strides  had  been 


made  into  those  regions  of  late  years,  we  might  yet  take 
courage  and  lift  up  our  heads,  for  it  was  settled  beyond  a 
doubt  that  either  a  Byron,  a  Scott,  or  a  Burns,  might  drop 
from  t'  e  clouds,  or  possibly  a  huge  epitome  of  the  distin- 
guished trio  might  dash  into  the  hearts  of  the  people,  with  a 
steam  engine  velocity,  or  a  forty  horse  ^ower,  and  not  only 
our  beloved  native  land,  but  each  household,  and  every 
member  of  the  same,  down  to  the  demure  cat  and  the  do- 
mestic but  military  old  Newfoundlander  would  be  handed 
down  •' wiU  be  well  he"  to  a  highly  interested  and  truly 
grateful  posterity. 

That  such  conversations  as  these,  left  an  indelible  inipres- 
sioB  upon  the  mind  of  the  writer,  must  be  very  perceptible. 
The  vacuum  of  literature,  and  the  innumerable  deficiences 
thereof  existing  in  No'a  Scotia,  had  been  frequently  re- 
marited  upon,  and  as  frequently  lamented,  not  9nly  by  chance 


^;* 


f^ 


30 


- 


visitants,  but  by  those  who  were  highly  capable,  had  the 
requisite  ynity,  energy,  and  enterprise,  been  forthcoming  of 
amehc  rating  our  condition,  and  prospects.  Considering  the 
nunierous  and  untouched  resources,  profusely  scattered  by 
beneficent  nature,  the  rich  fund  of  local  incident  and  histor- 
ical fact,  that  might  be  gathered  from  various  sources 
throughout  the  country,  the  sylvan  scenery,  the  then  un- 
touched natural  history  and  botany,  and  recently  explored 
geology,  its  extensive  species  of  algtp,  its  lauded  but  sealed 
up  coal  fields,  and  yet  more  the  physical  position  which 
leaves  this  province,  while  a  participator  of  the  natural  his- 
tory, the  botany  and  the  geology  of  the  whole  continent  in 
what  may  be  termed  a  distinct  and  original  position,  so  that 
a  litcratiTe  for  such  a  country,  without  discarding  science 
altogether,  needs  but  to  be  practical,  and  to  the  purpose,  to 
be  generally  serviceable,  and  the  vehicle  of  continuous  ben- 
efit. •  • 

This  not  having  been  the  case,  is  an  incontrovertible  proof 
tjiat  public  interest  wherever  sucii  had  been  positively  inde- 
pendent and  influential,  had  been  diverted  into  shallow  or 
pebbly  chaimels,  and  a  lurking  exultation  was  at  times  glar- 
ingly evident,  through  the  screen  wiiich  policy  drew  around 
it,'as  though  the  default  indefeasibly  worked  by  reaction, 
while  the  laxity  of  principle  at  that  time,  combined  with  the 
abundant  originality  of  the  United  States,  while  openly  eon- 
denuied,  evidently  met  with  an  equal  approval,  as  though  it 
were  considered  the  precursor,  and  contained  the  active  agent 
of  self-destruction. 

I  cannot  say  but  that  the  new  ideas  thus  presented  had 
some  effect  at'tl  :\t  time,  as  related  to  decisive  action  regard- 
ing personal  things,  but  some  specimens  of  rhyme,  written 
and  carelessly  handell  about,  underwent  the  ordeal  of  a  rigid 
and  radical  scrutiny,  not  in  any  degree  pleasing  to  the  au- 
thoress, or  calculated  to  add  to  internal  satisfaction. 

It  was  at  this  epoch  of  our  social  life,  that  the  slumbers  of 
the  Province  were  disturbed  by  a  terrible  vision  of  an  inter- 
minable railroad  prospectus,  and  the  cabbage  tree,  around 
which  our  associations  from  early  life  had  clustered,  waxed 
pale  and  wan  at  the  zephyr-breathed  murmur  which  moaned 
through  its  crisby-curled  leaves,  that  the  very  ground"  from 
whence  its  sustenance  was  elicited,  might,  in  unmistakable 
and  positive  and  unimaginative   realiiy   be   turned   upside 


31 


)able,  had  the 
brtbcoming  of 
onsidering  the 
'■  scattered  by 
ent  and  histor- 
irious  sources 
the  then  un- 
;ntly  explored 
ded  but  sealed 
losition  which 
le  natural  his- 
3  continent  in 
osition,  so  that 
irding  science 
le  purpose,  to 
)ntinuous  ben- 

overtible  proof 
ositivcly  inde- 
to  shallow  or 
;  at  times  glar- 
r  drew  around 
I  by  reaction, 
bined  with  the 
ile  openly  con- 
1,  as  though  it 
le  active  agent 

presented  had 
action  regard- 
liyme,  written 
deal  of  a  rigid 
[ig  to  the  au- 
ction. 

le  slumbers  of 
»n  of  an  inter- 
tree,  around 
stored,  waxed 
*vhich  moaned 
ground"  from 
unmistakable 
:urned   upside 


down  by  the  ruthless  ploughshare.  But  there  is  not  a  so):- 
row  that  hath  not  a  balm,  saith  the  poet,  so  in  the  midst  of 
the  general  distress  of  mind,  what  should  suddenly  appear  in 
our  capacious  harbor  to  gladden  the  drooping  hearts  of  "  our 
regime  "  than  the  fleur  do  lis  of  la  belle  P'rance.  Yes,  positive- 
ly and  undeniably,  the  vital  elements  resumed  their  wonted 
course  and  a  general  smile  of  gratulation  shed  a  refulgent  glow 
upon  the  landscape,  for  in  very  deed  and  truth  the  French 
Prince  answering  to  the  title  of  De  Joinville,Avasno\v  honoring 
our  poor  country  with  his  presence.  His  presence,  did  I  say  ? 
Why  one  third  of  his  shadow  would  have  been  a  resuscita- 
ting anodyne  ;  but  his  royal  shoes  left  our  rugged  coast,  with- 
out ever  once  being  brought  into  contact  with  the  coarse, 
vulgar  element  from  whence  Ave  derive  our  existence.  The 
human  mind  always  flying  off  at  a  tangent,  we  highly  laud- 
ed such  a  decision,  doing  extra  homage  to  the  shadow  that 
could  .ot  probably  endure  to  gaze  upon  such  a  miserable 
country  as  was  ours,  and  preserved  its  sensibilities  for  some 
more  worthy  object. 

It  was  an  indubitable  fact,  which  wa§  at  length  grasped 
in  the  entirety  thereof,  that  the  banner  of  the  Emperor  float- 
ing from  the  masts  of  le  Bellepoule  or  le  Bellerophon,  mem- 
ory refuses  to  be  taxed  as  to  the  exactitude  of  the  cognom.en, 
or  whether  the  royal  presence  arrived  not  in  both  of  these 
ships  at  once,  each  participating  in  the  joyous  burthen,  and 
my  chronology  is  often  at  fault  on  regal  matters;  but  it  was 
true,  notwithstanding.  The  very  insignia  which  had  so  often 
undertaken  the  humiliation  of  our  sometime  insubordinate  old 
mothcr,was  pcac2fully  getting  uj)  to  Chebucto  basin  somehow 
or  other,  without  once  going  like  a  common  vessel  upon  the 
roeks  at  Farquson's  cove,  or  being  decoyed  by  false  lights 
into  Prospect  Bay. 

Itwas  to  this  jtwous  advf>ntthat  we  in  a  great  measure 
owed  the  influx  of*^ curious  looking  gentlemen  heretofore  ob- 
served, and  oiiicers  with  blue  and  yellow  badges  stitched 
upon  their  coats,  and  who  perambulated  our  streets  at  their 
pleasure,  exhibiting  countenances  in  which  a  mingled  expres- 
sion of  melancholy  and  agony  bore  precedence,  together 
with  frowning  and  scowling  brows,  harsh  eyes  which  "iiupu- 
dently  scanned  every  window  of  every  domicile,  and  a  perfect 
wilderness  of  unkempt  tresscs,Avith  a  heavy  moustache,  imperi- 
al, and  all  the  other  etceteras  of  French  gentlemen,  includins 


32 


a  clattering  poignard,  a  perfumed  mcuchoir,  a  cigar  and 
hiofh  heeled  boots,  and  an  atrociously  enormous  bouquet 
with  snutf-box  to  match.  Though  the  possibility  of  our  coun- 
try's ever  attaining  the  tea-garden  position  prophesied  by  the 
retired  navy  list  was  yet  in  embryo,  the  certainty  became  in- 
stilled into  our  minds  that  an  extensive  celebrity  as  a  "  Bear 
garden,"  ranged  by  the  most  vicious  of  the  species,  was  be- 
stowed gratis,  by  foraging  parties  of  thesfe  animals,  disguised 
as  above  described,  who  wandered  here,  there,  and  e^  -rv- 
where,  getting  each  other  and  all  the  "  peaceful  inhabit- 
ants" with  whom  accident  or  circumstances  brought  them 
in  contact,  into  strange  scrapes  and  unheard-of  advent  3, 
into  unnecessary  intrigues,  and  ruinous  debts,  and  begetting 
a.  style  of  fashionable  life  which  our  weak  minds  anxious  for 
universal  equaUty  grasped  at  as  the  ultimatum  of  quintes- 
cence.  But  whether  the  conjecture  be  a  wild,  unfounded  fan- 
cy, that  the  conjoined  presence  of  these  various  parties  advert- 
ed to  were  the  effect  of  accident,  or  a  design  efficiently  acted 
upon,  or  the  freemasonry  which  draws  birds  of  a  feather  to- 
gether, must  be  for  subseqnent  events  to  determine. 

Balls,  fetes,  dejeunes  and  luncheons  followed  each  other 
in  quick  succession,  and  the  railroad  prospectus  -which  had 
tbiTified,  while  delighting  us,  waxed  thin  and  thinner,  figura- 
tively speaking,  for  while  it  now  fell  upon  the  lo\Ter  classes, 
who  eagerly  grasped  it  as  the  embodiment  of  their  saving 
hopes,  it  received  a  desperate  handhng  from  the  exalted 
clique,  who  scanned  it  at  their  leisure,  and  laughed  over  it 
with  the  foreigners.  But  pubhc  courage  revived  upon  the 
news  transpiring  throughout  the  country  that  "  the  gracious 
presence,"  while  doing  the  honors  in  propria  personae  at  one 
of  his  most  brilliant  entertainments,  had  actually  chosen  as 
his  partner  in  the"  virling  valtz  "  the  honored  daughter  of  a 
native  of  the  soil,  the  first  and  only  one  said  the  gossipping 
coteries  during  his  extended  hospitalities.  The  public  heart 
reverberated  at  the  condescension,  which  however  aroused 
a  mystified  uncertainty  as  to  its  now  probably  evolving  des- 
tiny !  For  was  not  this  the  symbol  of  unity,  and  when  after  dis- 
cussing the  routine  of  "  toasts"  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
entertainment  we  fell  upon  those  which  over  and  yet  again 
lauded  the  land  of  the  Mayllower  and  Acadia's  fair  daugh- 
ters, the  most  desperate  introducers  of  "Yankee  Notions," 
and  American  common-places  amongst  us,  succumbed  with- 


-t. 


f  I 


33 


r,  a  cigar  and 
)rmou3  bouquet 
lity  of  our  coun- 
fophesied  by  the 
linty  became  in- 
rity  as  a  "  Bear 
pecies,  was  be- 
imals,  disguised 
ire,  and  e^  "'•y- 
2aceiul  inhabit- 
\  brought  them 
i-of  advent  3, 
I,  and  begetting 
nds  anxious  for 
um  of  quintes- 
unfounded  fan- 
3  parties  advert- 
efficiently  acted 
of  a  feather  to- 
rmine. 

ved  each  other 
ctus  -which  had 
thinner,  figura- 
j  lo\Ter  classes, 
)f  their  saving 
m  the  exalted 
aughed  over  it 
ived  upon  the 
''  the  gracious 
personae  at  one 
ually  chosen  as 
1  daughter  of  a 
the  gossipping 
he  public  heart 
wever  aroused 
evolving  des- 
when  after  dis- 
iclusion  of  the 
and  yet  again 
a's  fair  daugh- 
ikee  Notions," 
.ccumbed  with- 


out further  argument  and  without  one  dissentient  voice 
decided  that  our  plain  and  distinct  course*  was  marked  by 
the  hand  of  Nature,  £nd  the  best  thing  to  be  done  by  the 
way  of  progress,  v  as  to  annex  ourselves  to  France  as  spee- 
dily as  possible,  or  u"ow  ourselves  at  the  lOOt  of  the  throne 
and  beg  to  be  lifted  up  ! 

That  such  a  state  of  general  dissatisfaction  prevailed 
throughout  the  Province  has  been,  and  is  still  well  known. 
That  it  was  behind  the  times,  that  it  lacked  progress,  and 
lazily  lagged  in  the  rear  when  the  advance  called  for  its 
presence,  the  cause  was  unthought  of,  and  the  kernel  reposed 
in  the  tough  rhind,  eafficient  hardihood  existed  not,  individ- 
ually to  chance  upon  the  spines  of  the  integument. 

Some  time  after  this  thrilling  incident  of  the  royal  presence 
was  partially  obliviated,  being  upon  the  eve  of  removing  to 
a  village  situated  upon  the  banks  of  the  Chebucto  and  imme- 
diately opposite  the  city  of  H.,  I  became  aware  that  the  gen- 
tlemen whose  patriotic  views  have  been  already  dealt  with, 
and  whose  gigantic  efforts  in  the  cause  of  Responsible  Gov- 
ernment marked  him  as  a  king  among  his  peers,  had  some 
how  or  other  won  round  to  the  heirarchy,  and  was  himself 
among  the  prophets,  peering  into  astrology,  and  anxious  to 
give  a  first  and  friendly  welcome  to  the  star  upon  the  hori- 
zon, which  did  not  take  the  trouble  it  seemed,  to  rise  as  fast 
as  possible,  or  as  might  bo  expected.  Literature,  then  'was 
to  be  our  saving  clause  from  down  .ight  perdition  among  the 
nations.  The  strong  reed  by  the  deep  waters.  The  papyrus 
with  many  volumes  in  the  folding,  and  here  was  a  self-elccted 
general  at  issue  ready  to  drag  from  hidden  recesses  the  abscond- 
ing traitor  to  the  trust,  or  the  wavering  or  hesitating  recruit. 
Literature  was  the  theme  upon  all  sides,  it  was  to  be  our 
mainstay,  our  beacon,  our  kindly  philanthrophist,  to  pick  us 
up  out  of  the  gutter  of  despondency,  and  place  us  upon  the 
dry  bank  by  the  busy  mart  side,  that  the  sun  of  prosperity 
might  bestow  a  thorough  warming  upon  us. 

Our  Captain  General  worked  day  and  night,  at  reason- 
able  and  unreasonable  times,  to  convince,  by  speeches, 
exhortations,  and  alluring  argument,  the  already  satisfied 
community,  that  "somehow,  something  there  always  had 
been  wanting,"  a  fact  which  we  could  have  readily,  one  and 
all,  forestalled  the  acknowledgement  of,  h^d  not  a  timid 
sr irking  of  the  Question  unfailinwlv  rlotovra^        "W^  «^«««^h 

O 


■f, 


34 

the  country  in  search  of  coadjutors,  while  he,  as  master  ot 
the  ceremonies,  intrbduced  each  fortunate  wight  who  pos- 
sessed the  art  of  stringing  a  rhyme  together  into  every  tea 
party,  or  temperance  demonstration,  or  political  gathering  of 
every  description,  into  Avhich  they  might  be  oonveniently 
drat^ired  as  a  future  Byron,  Burns,  and  Scott,  done  up  m 

one.  ,  i-      •  1 

By  the  instrumentality  of  this  person',  pubhcations  partak- 

'  imr  the  nature  and  style  of  periodicals,  were  soon  started, 
wilh  the  dcsiderative  full  in  viewoffosterinj;  the  timid  genius 
and  gracefully  and  beneficently^ framing  the  bold  and  cursory, 
and  his  paternal  care  soon  lured  into  the  field  a  collection  of 
poetical  competitors  and  productions,  mediocre  or  otherwise, 
from  pens,  many  of  them  Aticlded  by  female  hands,  which 
miaht  then,  had  adequate  interest  been  extended,  have 
created  a  decided  era  in  our  social  world,  and  not  a  fictitums 
or  an  an  absurd  one. 

The  m^nia  spread  rapidly,  literature  was  all  we  wanted 
to  make  us  great,  wise,  wealthy  and  happy,  but  some  how  or 
other  it  seemed  to  take  a  dov  iihill  slide,  and  seldom  came 
•  up  to  the  point,  that  is  to  say,  with  a  celebrated  writer  upon 
the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  it  met  not  "  things  as  they 
are,"  but  modestly  held  back  from  giving  notoriety  to  j^eo- 
pie  or  localities,  and  dea't  in  epitaphs,  epigrams,  and  mar- 
riage epithaliums,  or  fraudulently  appropriated  confectionary 
mottoes,  and  threw  them  into  the  market  as  genuine.  To  be 
sure,  we  have  all  along  been  astounded  and  well  nij^h  anni- 
hilated at  times  by  the  oratory  of  our  statesmen  ;  the  rapid 
declamations  of  the  leaders  of  muhitudinous  gatherings,  and 
various  societies,  not  to  forget  the  long  and  oft-time  threat- 
ening epistles  to  my  Lord  this,  that,  or  the  other,  the  Sec- 
retary of  Foreign  Affairs,  or  a  petition  to  be  carried  at  once 
to  the  foot  of  the  throne,  and  compiled  by  the  joint  efforts  of 
the  entire  Legislature,  both  sides  taking  their  turn,  and  act- 
incT  in  unison,  when  any  thing  was  to  be  got  frorn  the  other. 

%ut  we  diverge  from  the  subject.  These  last  lie  not  m  the 
domain  of  that  expression  of  thought,  that  combination  of 
the  mental  powers,  the  judgment,  memory  and  will,  the 
originality  which  speaks  in  a  new  sense,  opening  up  occult 
sources,  of  information,  and  displaying  tangible  purpose,  so 
that  while  yet  eagerly  seizing  upon  news  frorn  "  Home"  by 
every  arrival,  and  our  own  land    teemea    with    interesting 


35 


^,  as  master  ot 
A'ight  who  pos- 
into  every  tea 
ieal  gathering  of 
be  conveniently 
ott,  done  up  in 

ications  partak- 
re  soon  started, 
the  timid  genius 
old  and  cursory, 
,d  a  collection  of 
ere  or  otherwise, 
e  hands,  which 
extended,  have 
d  not  a  fictitious 

all  we   wanted 
but  some  how  or 
d   seldom  came 
ated  writer  upon 
"  things  as  they 
notoriety  to  peo- 
rams,  and  mar- 
:cd  confectionary 
genuine.     To  be 
well  niL;!i  anni- 
■irncn  ;  the  rapid 
s  gatherings,  and 
oft-time  threat- 
other,  the  Sec- 
e  carried  at  once 
he  joint  efforts  of 
ir  turn,  and  act- 
;  from  the  other, 
ast  lie  not  in  the 
:  combmation  of 
ry  and  will,  the 
»ening  up  occult 
^ible  purpose,  so 
om  "  Home"  by 
with   interesting 


material  altogether  untouched,  for  the  very  important  need 
of  skilful  and  cunning  workmen. 

And  still  the  sun  rose  and  set  upon  scenery  as  vividly 
beautiful  as  any  in  the  known  world,  and  the  great  railroad 
agitators  kept  their  thousands  in  suspense  and  anxiety,  while 
no  evident  obstacle  existed  in  regard  to  the  accomplishment 
thereof,  this  last  allusion  will  be  comprehended  by  those  who 
have  heard  of  the  struggles  and  irritations  by  which  the  great 
project  of  the  British  Canadian  steam  route  was  ushered  in. 

But  talent  once  waxed  into  the  ascendant,  and  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course  it  soon  took  the  priority,  arrogating  an  unusual 
share  of  laudation,  and  every  person  now  who  possessed  a 
brow  of  bold  ard  lofty  character,  elevated  it  to  the  last 
extremity  of  breaking  their  necks,  that  it  might  be  "  clearly 
developed"  to  an  admiring  public,  "who  did  not  know  what 
the  world  was  coming  to,  it  was  going  to  be  so  clever." 
And  pool-  ignorance",  scanned  by  green  spectacles,  suddenly 
became  fashionable,  as  bestowing  a  "  Literary  aspect,"  wa^ 
fain  to  hide  its  blushes  behind  the  wash  tub,  or  the  chopping 
knife,  at  "  pig  killing  tirpe."  From  whence  it  sent  forth  in  its 
exuberance  of  health  and  animal  spirits,  jovial,  but  bitter 
and  effective  sarcasms,  v/hile  exhibiting  in  the  form  of  a 
substantial  sausage,  or  clustering  bunches  of  white  flax 
thread,  shining  and  lustrous,  fresh  from  the  "h^--  'en,''  indubi-. 
table  evidenae  of  physical  capability,  if  the  mental  were 
altogether  overlooked. 

This  was  also  our  age  of  Phrenology,  and  nothing  but 
heads  were  to  do  the  work  of  the  country-  Indeed  all  the 
"  Heady  sciences"  had  a  fine  run  among  us  at  that  time, 
owing  to  certain  gracious  pioneers  from  across  the  Bay  of 
Fundy,  undertaking  to  enfighten  us,  at  one  and  three  pence 
a  piece.  And  everybody  went  about,  staring  everybody  out 
of  countenance,  by  way  of  establishiiig  a  claim  to  a  know-, 
ledge  of  Physiognomy.  All  who  ventured  upon  a  clear  and 
determined  mind,  and  decision  independent,  a,dopted  a  mil- 
itary deportment.  A  dreamy  elevated  d^emeanor,  quite 
lifted  up,  it  was  supposed  above  sublunary  things,  whicli 
exhibited  the  power  of  mind  upon  matters,  in  a  -striking 
degree. 

This  last  was  the  perceptible  and  distinguishing  trait  of 
those  whose  names  had  been  actually   enrolled  amopcr  the 


scintillating]  cluster  of  literature.      Whom  it  was  premised 


>miL 


with  such  a  general  in  the  van.  Picking  up  the  dejected, 
waiting  for  the  meek,  and  even  nourishing  pencilled  lines 
of  favorites  of  the  muse.  Thus  bestowing  black  leads  upon 
an  ungrateful  country  gratis,  would  not  only  enable  it  to  rise 
even  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  but  make  that  world  ashamed 
of  itself,  ior  leaving  us  so  much  to  our  own  resources.  — 
Neglected  bantling  that  we  were.  But  no  fear  of  us,  when 
we  chose.  Emulation  thus  fairly  appealed  to,  arose  to  distin- 
guish its  own  attributes,  and  assume  its  position  with  aristo- 
cratical  superiority,  and  poetasters  abounded  for  a  time, 
blushing  like  the  dawn  at  their  own  cleverness,  upon 
which  the  eyes  of  the  universe  were  fixed,  and  criticised  each 
others  productions  with  all  the  combined  asperity  of  a  years' 
Blackwood.  We  had  evidently  not  yet  arrived  at  the  pecu- 
liar constellation  by  which  future  souls  were  to  be  moulded, 
but  we  were  not  far  from  it,  and  we  revelled  in  the  blissful 
anticipation  and  each  hoping  himself  might  be  the  favored  of 
the  muses;  meanwhile  tidings  of  this  progressive  nature  of 
things  reaching  my  retired  abode  in  the  country,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  circle  of  friends  whom  I  had  been  so  nearly 
associated  with  some  time  previously,  had  a  natural  effect. 
I  could  not  hear  of  literary  parties  without  a  sigh  of  discon- 
tent, at  being  among  the  absent,  the  outlawed  ignorant,  I 
could  not  see  with  patience,  giant  strided  progress  drawing 
up  elevated  taste,  like  the  eastern  gourd,  which'was  to  per- 
fect its  form  by  some  innate  vitality,  as  if  at  the  bidding  of 
necromancy  it  defied  the  laws  of  nature.  And  these  com- 
bined impressions  acting  in  consonance  with  the  beautiful 
scenery  around,  and  a  deep  interest  just  acquired  in  the 
History  of  Nova  Scotia,  uy  Halliburton,  enabled  me  to  over- 
come timidity,  occasioned  by  the  little  encouragement  ever 
given  to  the  excercise  of  the  talent,  and  the  not  pleasing 
notice  elicited,  as  before  related.  And  writing  out  the  first 
chapter  of  what  vvas  intended  as  a  poet'^al  romance,  illus- 
trative of  the  local  and  traditional  tales  of  the  country,  and 
nothing  more.  I  despatched  it  to  the  captain  of  the  band 
as  I  must  designate  the  gentleman  alluded  to,  but  without 
affixing  a  signature.  A  condescending  and  kind  notice  from 
his  pen  however,  was  convincing  evidence  that  he  had  traced 
it  to  the  author,  while  a  word  of  advice,  respecting  peculiiir- 
ities  of  style  showed  that  it  had  not  been  unnoticed. 
Though  native  talent  had  never  revealed  any  great  poetical 


'N,. 


a? 


»  the  dejected, 
pencilled  lines 
ack  leads  upon 
enable  it  to  rise 
world  ashamed 
1  resources.  -^ 
ar  of  us,  when 
arose  to  dislin- 
>n  with  aristo- 
3d  for  a  time, 
jverness,   upon 

1  criticised  each 
srity  of  a  years' 
'ed  atthe  pecu- 
to  be  moulded, 

in  the  blissful 

2  the  favored  of 
isive  nature  of 
try,  in  conn6c- 
)een  so  nearly 

natural  effect, 
sigh  of  discon- 
ed  ignorant,  I 
jgress  drawing 
ch'was  to  per- 
the  bidding  of 
.nd  these  com- 
h  the  beautiful 
cquired  in  the 
)led  me  to  over- 
iragement  ever 
e  not  pleasing 
ig  out  the  first 
romance,  illus- 
i  country,  and 
in  of  the  band 
o,  but  without 
[ind  notice  from 
it  he  had  traced 
acting  peculiiir- 
oticed. 
y  great  poetical 


• 


acumen,  all  that  was  written  was  valued,  and  loudly  lauded 
at  this  time,  and  a  scholastic  study  of  the  art,  in  its  various 
branches,  had  been  instituted  at  the  various  seminaries.  — 
But  recurring  to  4he  past,  the  only  attempt  at  any  thing  like 
.  poetry  for  the  people,  brought  to  the  public  cognisance,  or 
with  which  I  became  acquainted  in  the  days  of  childhood, 
when  the  topic  was  altogether  slighted  by  the  higher  powers 
was  promulgated  by  an  aged  intinerant,  vending  his  own 
productions  under  the  title  of  Cowdel's  Poems,  and  the  half 
mischievous  merriment  with  which  this  deputy  of  l^arnassus 
was  universally  hailed,  together  with  "  the  charitable  feel- 
ings" that  gave  "  the  miserable  old  man  a  six-pence  for  pity 
sake,"  and  benevolently  condescended  to  purchase  his  vol- 
umes for  the  purpose  of  getting  rid  of  him,  "  and  pitied  the 
foolish  fellow  for  not  trying  to  get  his  living  in  some  mcyre 
business-like  method,"  All  this  seemed  so  like  the  mocking 
gleam  of  sunlight  upon  half  buried  fir  trees,  when  the  fire 
has  been  extinguished  from  their  green  columns,  by  heavy 
rains,  that  my  own  ambition  h^d  incontestibly  shrank  from 
becomimg  that  unfavored  precent  a  poetess,  and  the  more  so 
as  with  the  headings  for  the  wooden  tomb  stones  in  the 
church-yard,  a  more  than  usually  brilliant  effusion  was  con- 
sidered synonymous  with  madness,  and  would  have  imme- 
diately consigned  the  writer  to  a  Bedlam,  had  capability  been 
consonant  with  will. 

So  the  old  bard  wandered  up  and  down  the  land  like 
Noah's  dove,  finding  no  rest  for  the  sole  of  his  foot,  and  not 
overburthened  with  six-pences.  So  much  for  local  literature 
in  the  planting  and  nurturing  thereof,  yet,  strange  to  say,  we 
eagerly  seized  upon  that  of  other  lands,  and  hung  with  delight 
upon  descriptions  of  scenery,  which  pot  one  among  a  thou- 
sand might  ever  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  and  local  liter- 
ature was  not  the  guest  of  the  day.  For  said  we  humiliatively , 
''  who  would  care  to  read  stuff  that  we  had  made  ourselves, 
out  of  our  own  heads,  and  carry  it  about  like  old  Cowdel 
does."  Not  at  all,  we  would  never  have  the  face  to  do  it, 
and  what  was  more,  there  would  be  no  recipients  forthcom- 
ing. No !  we  knew  better  than  that',  we  had  not  the  abom- 
inable and  unheard  of  vanity  to  think  so. 

So  that  at  this  epoch,  our  poor  poets,  had  there  beeq  any, 
might  have  died  in  pig  sties,  as  well  as  garrets,  if  they  had 
been  sufficiently  fortunate  to  gain  the  favor  of  one,  as  to 


I 


38 


I 


I 


owning  such  a  thing,  the  mines  of  Golconda  were  not  further 
from  their  reach.  It  was  not  to  be  thought  of,  they  did  not 
deserve  one. 

The  reception  these  poems  received  in*  the  kitchen,  also 
was  not  to  be  despised.  As  the  strictures  of  the  servants 
in  a  country  establishment,  form  a  very  powerful  criterion 
for  children,  wereby  to  arrive  at  practical  conclusions,  and 
in  which,  if  simplicity  be  the  test  of  truth,  the  mark  is  seldom 
overstepped.  And,  although  one  of  the  fugitive  pieces 
entitled  the  "  Hymn  of  the  Indian  in  the  wood"  of  which  an 
extract,  is  subjoined,  was  rapturously  received.  The  entire 
volume  was  too  often  discovered  lurking  in  corners  upon  the 
kitchen  d'-e*ser,  or  lying  torn,  defaced,  and  soiled  in  the 
course  towel  drawer,  from  whence  it  was  roughly  dragged 
forth,  that  more  than  its  fly-leaves  might  be  the  support  of 
some  broken  tallow  candle,  or  serve  to  fill  up  the  elaborate 
socket  of  a  candlestick  ,under  the  not  very  flattering  cog- 
nomen of  a  bit  of  old  Govf del's  book.  And  from  the  length 
of  time  these  piracies  continued,  I  am  led  lO  think  the 
volume  must  have  been  inexhaustible  in  size  and  contents, 
yet,  the  following  lines  were  of  a  certainty  duly  appreciated  : 

■  In  de  dark  wdod,  no  Ligin  nigh, 

Den  me  look  Heaven,  and  send  up  cry, 
Upon  my  knee  so  low, 
])at  God  in  Heaven  ■\vid  sliining  face, 
Sec  me  on  earth,  dis  little  place. 
My  priest  he  tell  me  so. 

To  sav  the  truth,  when  we  look  V  ick  upon  the  past  of  our 
country,  to  the  time  when  we  became  the  undoubted  part 
and  parcel  of  a  monarchy,  here  was  much  need  for  all 
the  practical  characteristics  of  humanity.  Though  not  so 
great  a  scope  for  them  as  had  our  neighbors.  People  must 
work  or  starve.  They  had  no  time  for  poetry.  And  when 
at  the  close  of  the  revolution,  so  many  additions  were  made 
to  our  population,  by  refugees  from  the  Republic,  it  may 
be  doubted  whether  it  was  the  dread  of  this  last  or  the  hope 
of  less  difficult  maintenance  in  a  country,  the  chief  ports 
of  which  became  the  entre-pot  of  the  British  Army  and 
Nayy,  scattering  wealth  around  them,  (or  a  circulation 
serving  to  retard  self  dependant  advances.)  And  creating 
an  easy  reliance  upon  the  mother^'country,  inujrious  in  every 


were  not  further 
of,  they  did  not 

lie  kitchen,  also 
\  of  the  servants 
werful  criterion 
jonclusions,  and 
e  mark  is  seldom 
fugitive  pieces 
)od"  of  which  an 
•ed.  The  entire 
corners  upon  the 
id  soiled  in  the 
oughly  dragged 
I  the  support  of 
ap  the  elaborate 
flattering  cog- 
1  from  the  length 
ed  lO  think  the 
e  and  contents, 
uly  appreciated : 


)n  the  past  of  our 

undoubted  part 

ich  need  for  all 

Though  not  so 

;.      People  must 

ry.      And  when 

ions  were  made 

epublic,   it  may 

last  or  the  hope 

the  chief  ports 

itish  Army   and 

3t   a   circulation 

And  creating 

inujrious  in  every 


39 

respect.     There  being  nothi'^g  like   an  established  capital 
whereby  to  co-operate,  or  creating  preponderaticn. 

Those  were  the  days  when  the  wild,  dreamy  mania  of  hid- 
den treasures  lured  many  a  penniless  wretch  to  these  shores 
who  had  no  notion  of  digging,  and  was  not  at  all  ashamed  to 
be  idle.  If  he  could  only  be  favored  by  a  vision  of  his  great 
grand-father,  guiding  him  to  a  strong  box,  under  the  spruce 
trees,  where,  by  the  friendly  assistance  of  a  pine  torch, 
waved  three  times  over  the  cherished  spot,  an  independence 
was  immediately  to  be  realized. 

But  not  withstanding  these  hallucinations,  coast  traffic,  the 
West  India  trade,  and  rough  living,  seem  to  have  been  the 
order  of  the  day,  among  the  mass  of  the  people,  reserving 
those  who  held  official  positions.  And  there  was  little  leisure 
for  literary  aspiration,  beyond  the  elements  of  writing,  (sign- 
ing a  cross  percfiance,)  and  arithmetic.  Those  were  the 
days,  w^hen  official  gentry,  revelling  in  the  abundance  of 
town  life,  and  attending  two  or  three  lavish  entertainments 
in  one  evening,  became  the  wonder  and  glory  of  country 
folks,  whom  they  did  not  condescend  to  regard  very  consid- 
erately," by  all  accounts,  until  they  had  failed  in  their  efforts 
at  a  system  of  aristocracy,  to  have  been  instituted  for  their 
own  peculiar  benefit.  So  these  last,  in  the  meanwhile, 
devoted  themselves  of  necessity,  to  be  useful,  practical, 
money  making,  and  hard  working.  And  even  the  females 
became  familiar  with  every  stage  of  buying,  selling  and  bar- 
gan  making.  To  be  good  house-keepers,  —  to  shine  in 
patch-work  quilts,  and  frying  fresknach,  or  "  Fast  Nacht'' 
cakes,  according  to  the  proper  pronunciation,  to  whichsing- 
ing  school  festivities,  and  the  unmeasured  indulgence  of 
quilting  parties,  bestowed  the  criterion  of  a  ivorable  opinion. 
'Tis  true,  times  were  changing,  as  previously  portrayed, 
but  old  impressions  are  in  a  new  country,  well  nigh  inerad- 
icable, particularly,  when  these  are  the  offshoots  of  the  harsh 
old  Conservative  Toryism  planted  in  the  Colonies  a  century 
ago,  and  left  to  germinate  at  pleasure. 

It's  well  enough  for  rich  folks  to  have  lotsof  learnin',  said 
his  wondering  admirer,  the  dweller  in  the  country  district, 
them  that  gets  their  money  home  in  England,  straight  from 
the  King,  and  can  sit  down  and  do  nothing,  no  mor^,  not 
like  us  poor  ones,  who  has  to  toil  from  daylight  till  dark 
nut  in  all  weather  s>  and  none  the  better  for  it.      "I  got  trew 


40 


1) 


1; 


% 


te  vorld  vel  enough  mineself,  milfout  any  grammer,  an  my 
gurls  ken  .do  de  same,"  was  the  frequently  quoted  remark  of 
an  old  German  lady,  whose  peregrinations,  in  that  expan- 
sive arena,  the  world,  were  limited,  and  the  boundary 
delineated  thus,  no  further  than  our  back  door,  to  tend  the 
cattle,  up  on  the  pasture  a  bit,  and  back  to  the  house. 

So  that  in  these  dark  and  barbarous  days  of  Tory  Despo- 
tism, the  hapless  being  who  "set  up  to  be  learned"  was  as 
likely  to  pine  away,  and  die,  the  deserved  victim  of  public 
contempt,  as  was  the  wandering  and  desolate  bard,  whose 
audacity  was  equalled  by  his  daring  hardihood,  and  who,  far 
from  becoming  the  oracle  of  the  evening  circle,  was  wisely 
,    mortified  into  a  corner,  "  out  of  the  way." 

To  shut  up  all  the  "larnin"  with  the  Parson,  the  Lawyer 
and  the  Doctor,  of  the  country  village,  and  extract  it  in 
costly  atoms,  at  an  exorbitant  charge,  had  been  the  fashion 
of  the  time,  when,  to  attend  church  in  leather  shoes,  laying 
aside  the  weekly  wooden  ones,  and  the  thick  tresses  adorned 
with  a  gay  handkercliief  head-dress,  Avas  the  coveted  luxury. 
The  unsettled  position  of  the  commercial  world,  rendering 
textile  fabrics  from  the  towns  of  England,  as  difficult  of 
attainment,  to  the  provinces,  as  varied  circumstances  made 
them  to  our  neighbors.  The  grey  German  linsey'  woolsey 
cloth,  became  the  general  costume,  and  unobtrusive  indus- 
try twirled  the  time  discolored  wheel,  beside  the  close  stove, 
by  daylight,  or  midnight  hours,  and  the  great  hanks  of  yarn 
redolent  of  fish  oil,  depended  from  every  country  kitchen 
ceiling  in  the  province. 

Upon  the  wiiole,  then  our  monarchists  gradually  found 
themselves  no  better  off  than  they  had  been  previous  to  the 
exudation  from  the  struggles  of  the  infant  republic,  but 
rather  in  the  descent,  as  having  forfeited  all  claim  to  inde- 
pendant  purpose.  But  invincible  energy,  dormant  or 
warped,  as  it  might  be,  has  certainly  made  the  best  of  the 
bargain. 

It  was  in  those  sylvan  days,  that  sturdy  young  country 
lasses  made  light  of  trudging  some  twenty,  thirty,  or  forty 
miles,  to  the  nearest  Church  or  Meeting  House,  when 
Meeting  Houses  began  to  be  countenanced,  and  English 
goods  being  diflScult  of  attainment,  the  two  yards  width  dress 
of  white  muslin,  was  vainly  paraded,  for  envious  eyes  to 
gaze  upon.     The  crimson  sash  fluttered  in  the  breeze,  and 


I 


41 


jrammer,  an  my 
quoted  remark  of 
,  in  that  ex  pan- 
el the  boundary 
oor,  to  tend  the 
the  house. 
I  of  Tory  Despo- 
learned"  was  as 
victim  of  public 
ale  bard,  whose 
^od,  and  who,  far 
rcle,  was  wisely 

son,  the  Lawyer 
id  extract  it  in 
been  the  fashion 
er  shoes,  laying 
k  tresses  adorned 
!  coveted  luxury, 
vorld,  rendering 
,  as  difficult  of 
imstances  made 
linsey'  woolsey 
obtrusive  indns- 
'■  the  close  stove, 
it  hanks  of  yarn 
country  kitchen 

gradually  found 
previous  to  the 
it  republic,   but 

claim  to  inde- 
y,    dormant  or 

the  best  of  the 


young  country 
thirty,  or  forty 
House,  when 
I,  and  English 
ards  width  dress 
invious  eyes  to 
le  breeze,  and 


treasure  of  treasures,  the  shoes  of  leather,  not  too  dainty  ih 
style,  or  too  delicate  in  appearance,  were  carefully  carried 
the  entire  distance,  as  rather  impeding  than  aiding  the  pro- 
gress of  the  wearer,  and  with  the  dress  and  sash  bound  into 
a  bundle,  for  coarser  clothing  was  needed  in  breaking  a  path 
among  brushwood,  thus  parties  of  young  lasses,  their  stal- 
war*  escort  preceding  to  the  most  convenient  tavern,  speed- 
ily exchanged  the  russet  cloth  for  the  white  muslin.  The 
lounge-roon  .  the  most  sheltered  nook,  formed  by  the  hemlock, 
or  the  bir"^  The  rriirror,  the  nearest  pelluced  stream,  In  which 
duck-weid  e:  d,  or  transparent  tadpole  disported,  in  the  vic- 
inity of  i;^  vf  «  ^e  Church,  when  the  first  bell  frantically  pro- 
claimed  ti.  ^vent  of  Easter  Sunday.  And  after  ihe  feet 
which  bore  the  shoes,  had  dipped  deeply  as  the  tadpole,  these 
indubitable  evidences  of  wealth  and  gentility  were  sure  to  win  a 
husband,  if  all  other  allurements  were  a  failure. 

There  is  a  latent,  though  desperate  energy,  in  the  Nova  Sco- 
lian,  when  not  totally  schooled  down,  disciplined  and  subdued, 
by  ancient  maxims,  which  the  moment  he  has  fallen  upon  an 
unprofitable  disposition  of  affairs,  sets  him  upon  the  most  direct 
plan  of  rectifying  them,  with  a  kind  of  double-handed  determi- 
nation. But  the  idea  once  instilled  into  his  mind  by  those  he 
vnerates,  that  a  spirit  of  quiet  unquestioning  submission  to  the 
powers  that  be,  is  his  greatest  glory.  The  secret  of  slow  growth 
is  at  once  arrived  at,  to  say  of  the  trival  arrangements  of  a  small 
country,  "they  are  too  deep  for  me,  I  have  enough  to  do  with- 
out  troubling  myself  about  politics,"  and  this  from  men  whose 
known  capability  marks  them  for  publicity,  argues  not  well  for 
the  position  which  tvery  country  must  assume  in  relation  to 
others,  through  intellectuality  alone,  while  in  the  superabundant 
class  of  an  opposite  description,  too  ready  to  seize  upon  advan- 
tages. Space  is  left  for  aggression,  and  the  means  of  giving  it  may 
be  beslowed  to  an  illimitable  extent.  This  bias  is  the  elfect  of 
that  early  laxity  of  improvement  of  the  mental  powers  of  which 
we  have  attempted  an  explanation,  and  these  sketches  of  the 
"  antique  system"  are  requisite  that  the  reader  may  have  some 
clue  in  the  elucidation  of  present  things.  It  is  very  certain  that 
the  Provinces  were  not  made  ready  grown  up,  but  being  sup- 
plied with  the  materials  for  a  brilliant  adolesence,  the  artificer  is 
alone  wanting  the  strong  right  hand  that  can  wrest  the  unres- 
trained application.  It  is  equally  so  that  restraint  has  been  per- 
niciously excercised,  for  reasons  previously  explained,   but  the 


I 

I 


42 

expression  was  also  wanting.  A  scrutinizing  lest  was  spreading 
abroad  a  literary  ordeal  which  was  far  from  genial  in  the  tenor, 
or  agreeable  to  become  subservient  to,  so  that  the  timid  becanfie 
•''^«s  assured,  the  bold  less  brave. 

After  settling  in  the  village  of  D,, though  so  near  the  seat  of 
»-.::rning,  the  Athens  of  the  Province,  where  authors  were  no: 
flung  to  the  wild  beasts — I  did  not  very  warmly  renew  my 
former  friendships.  Other  influences  than  those  of  literature 
were  at  work  and  seething  to  the  fUrface,  and  division,  disunion 
and  irritation,  throughout  the  country,  were  deeply  reflected  in 
domestic  circles.  My  mind  was  undergoing  a  change,  and  1 
sought  more  congenial  companions  than  those  previously  asso- 
ciated with.  The  choice  brancii  of  the  now  culminating 
clique,  whose' pass-word  was  "literature,"  continued  their  visits 
to  ourselves,  but  there  were  but  two  or  three  of  the  family 
relatives  with  whom  I  cared  to  exchange  courtesies,  so  that  life 
at  D.  gradually  became  a  very  concentrated  and  secluded  sort 
of  thing. 

The  literary  mania  taking  a  more  subdued  fornci,  still  went  on, 
and  one  of  the  individual  circle  of  ladies  connected  with  the 
Captain-General,  showed  me  parts  of  the  composed  poem 
which  I  had  transcribed  for  his  approval,  and  he  had  caused  it 
to  be  inserted  in  a  newspaper  of  which  he  was  the  editor.  But 
the  hesitation  from  various  causes,  and  previously  hinted  at  de- 
terred from  a  candid  arising  acknowledgment  of  authenticity. 

The  idea  of  turning  talent  to  account  in  the  usual  common- 
place of  novel  writing,  had  been  for  some  time  entertained, 
while  coMscien  *e  urgf^d  some  tangible  object  and  matter  of  fact, 
or  of  moment,  with  the  hope  of  doing  good,  an  1  I  hesifated 
between  the  position  of  the  native  Micmac  and  the  great  move- 
ment of  temperance ;  which,  at  that  time,  made  an  exciting 
noise  among  us,  and  which,  commencing  with  Roman  Catholic 
manifestations  and  demonstrations  and  devotional  developments, 
gradually  swung  round  into  an  understood  though  secret  index 
of  annexation  to  the  United  States,  and  those  who  innocently 
regarded  it  as  a  simple  opponent  of  dram-drinking  were  tacitly 
smiled  down,  or  left  to  amuse  themselves  with  the  notion  in 
their  own  way.  Proof  enough  that  while  weak  agents  acted 
upon  the  outer  surface,  skillful  hands  controlled  the  wires,  and 
the  puppets  did  the  bidding  of  a  master  hand.  A  restless  love 
of  out-door  amusements,  however,  deterred  from  the  heartless 
effort,  and  the  constant  occupation  of  gardening  and  taking  long 


est  was  spreading 
lial  in  the  tenor, 
he  timid  becanfie 

near  the  seat  of 
authors  were  no: 
irmly  renew  my 
ose  of  literature 
division,  disunion 
?eply  reflected  in 
a.  change,  and  1 

previously  asso- 
low  culminating 
;inued  their  visits 
36  of  the  family 
esies,  so  that  life 
lid  secluded  sort 

m,  still  went  on, 
[inected  with  the 
composed  poem 
le  had  caused  it 
the  editor.  But 
sly  hinted  at  de- 
r  authenticity, 
usual  common- 
ime  entertained, 
d  matter  of  fact, 
,  an  1  I  hesifated 
the  great  move- 
ade  an  exciting 
loman  Catholic 
il  developments, 
gh  secret  index 
i  who  innocently 
;ing  were  tacitly 
I  the  notion  in 
ik  agents  acted 
1  the  wires,  and 
A  restless  love 
m  the  heartless 
and  taking  long 


43 

walks  into  ihe  country,  and  strolling  upon  the  beautiful  and 
breezy  shores  of  Chebuclo  Basin.  But  the  conviction  was  then 
painfully  and  indelibly  impressed,  that  little  aid  would  be  be- 
stowed, or  even  permitted,  for  necessary  researches,  unless  the 
result  were  calculated  to  sustain  party  bias.  And  stiilthe  im- 
pression recurred  that  undeveloped  resources  demanded  exertion, 
and  yet  more,  that  establishment  of  sound  scriptural  principle 
which  it  is  the  glory  of  literature  to  instill,  with  a  decided  con- 
viction of  the  sad  perversion  thereof  by  a  warping  partizanship. 
I  have  sometimes  thought  that  all  the  mental  agony  I  afterwards 
endured  was  a  just  rptribntion  for  the  indecision  of  that'  period. 

Providence,  meanwhile,  was  preparing  a  subject  undreamed 
of,  and  hitherto  unknown  to  the  author.  One  which  has  shaken* 
kingdoms  and  undermined  principalities,  one  which  has  also 
ensured  them  a  firm  and  christian  foundation,  one  which  is  im- 
portant in  the  deepest  sense  of  the  term  to  the  peasant,  and 
the  sovereign,  to  the  world  enlightened  diplomatist,  and  to  the 
beggar-boy  upon  the  way-side,  who  can  only  pray  as  his  father 
has  taught  him,  and  knows  no  distinction  of  form,  or  sect,  or 
creed.  That  subject  is  most  truly  vital  which  is  dear  to  the 
veiled  nun  while  counting  her  rosary,  and  the  strolling  mendi- 
cant who  sees  God  in  the  clouds  and  hears  him  in  the  wind- 
who  gazes  upon  the  soil  which  gives  not  unto  him  a  single  foot, 
hold  for  a  possession,  and  into  the  glowing  '  ^ue  expanse  where 
the  illimitable  immensity  of  eternity  is  ;  'lingly  displayed  ; 
and  meekly  says  All,  all  is  thine,  and  I  am  nothing. 

This  theme  which  must  forever  ^nd  forever  remain  the  same, 
however  protean  it  became,  has  been,  though  mingled  with 
much  human  error,  the  foundation  of  the  greatest  living  repub- 
lic, marked  upon  tfie  annals  of  earth's  history,  and  its  firm 
establishme*-  vvill  doubtless  be  the  precursor  of  milienial  glory. 
'Tis  but  three  hundred  cycles  since  this  subject  has  shaken  the 
social  system  of  the  wide  universe,  and  scattered  abroad  many 
an  hidden  seed  of  iniquity,  and  while  revelation  is  thtf  denizen 
of  the  human  family,  shall  freedom  of  religious  faith  reach  for- 
ward to  eternal  things. 

Those  i..one  who  have  personally  experienced  an  infringe- 
ment of  this  privilege  of  the  christian  or  the  pagap  era,  can 
form  an  adequate  estimate  of  its  value,  nor  can  a  conception  of 
the  bitter  grief  which  accompanies  it  be  otherwise  understood. 
It  becomes  a  crushing  weight,  an  overpowering  incubus,  through 
which  the  mind  is  gradually  wrought  to  a  state  of  frenzy  or  des- 


'     44 

peratlon,  or  sinks  down  slowJy,  gradually,  despairingly,  into  an 
utter  extinction  of  power,  a  death  like  torpor.  A  cessation  of 
every  mental  energy  follows,  the  physical  nature  gradually  suc- 
cumbs, and  the  only  refuge  for  the  harassed  being  is  the  silent 
jrave ;  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  the  only  hope 
for  the  jaded  mind,  the  outraged  spirituality  is  rest,  rest,  rest, 
rest,  m  the  presence  of  its  Maker. 


i 


4^ 


jpairingly,  into  an 
)r.  A  cessation  of 
ure  gradually  suc- 
leing  is  the  silent 
ng,  the  only  hope 
is  rest,  rest,  rest, 


CHAPTER  III. 

Mom  is  breaking,  mom  is  breaking, 

The  East  is  red  and  glorioua. 
Days  of  earth's  millenia'  bliss. 
Be  thy  harbinger  victorious. 
We  hear  you  calling,  Uncle  Sam,  your  voice  is  on  the  hills, 
And  we  know  religious  foctions  have  created  bitter  ills.  < 

We  are  brin^g,  we  are  bringing 

Cmshed  hopes,  but  hopeful  hearts ; 
Despotic  power  again  is  felt. 
But  eacn  must  act  their  part.  • 

The  curse  is  hanging  over  us,  'tis  written  not  in  sand; 
We  won't  endure  the  tyranny  of  a  dark  and  secret  band. 

1  trust  some  insight  has  been  given  to  the  reader  in  this 
cursory  contour  of  the  exact  state  of  things  in  or  Province, 
and  some  idea  of  the  sort  of  people  we  are,  .has  been  en- 
grafted upon  the  public  mind,  discussing  these  trifles.  It  is 
for  v^^riters  with  other  objects  in  viow  to  gather  the  oft-told 
anecdote  ot  smuggling  notoriety,  to  dwell  upon  th  ;  mental 
destitution,  which  is  now  openly  acknowledged,  and  daily 
becoming  self-evident,  and  point  the  way  to  a  better  sys- 
tem. 

Yet  did  the  ancient  tory  regime  laud  loudly  its  philan- 
thrope^ efforts  for  Uie  conversion  of  the  heathen^  and,  sooth 
to  say,  they  evidently  did  as  well  as  they  knew  how.  Those 
were  not  the  most  brilliant  intellects  which  the  hand  of  our 
mother  threw  amongst  us,  but  it  is  to  be  supposed  they 
were  the  best  that  could  be  spared,  and  they  ruled  the  roast 
to  an  extent  unparalelled  in  western  history.  But  a  glorious 
sunrise  was  preparing  for  our  benighted  vision,  and  the 
bberals  now  in  the  ascendant,  did,  in  their  proftsion  of 
promises,  remind  one  of  the  old  acme  once  so  popular 
among  children,  which  awards  illimitable  supplies  of  plum- 
pudding  and  roast  goose  to  the  pet  daughter  of  some  se- 
cluded old  dame,  as  the  means  of  enticing  her  from  the* 
paternal  roof,  and  ends  by  an  expose  of  cruelty  which 


111! 


46 

makes  one's  heart  bleed  for  her  sorrows,  fictitious  ihough 
they  were,  for  the  unfortunate  victim  reveals  to  her  petrified 
mamma  that  she  has  not  only  been  fed  upon  mud  and  water 
out  ol  the  gutter,  but  an  inhuman  savage  has  actually  com- 
pelled  her  to  sleep  upon  pins  and  needles  stuck  upwards. 

Ihe  pins  and  needles  were  the  vision  of  that  terrible  rai'- 
road,  which  still  pines  for  completion,  though  many,  too 
many,  of  its  early  advocates  are  now  mingled  with  the 
dust  ° 

Provincial  life  was,  in  its  elements  at  that  time,  well-nigh 
shaiV3red  by   such    an    expose  of  party   excitement  as  an 
election  surely  brings.     It  seemed  as  if  the  weak,  wavering, 
or  conscientious  principles  implanted  in  the  Colony,  we?e 
now  to  be  put  to  the  issue,  that  they  might  bring  forfh  fruit, 
ihe  fruit  ui  office.     Between   the   two  divided  apparently, 
but  in  reanty  the  one  party  beneath  two  semblances,  that 
have  nearly  ^yrecked  Protestantism,  the  Liberal  and   Con- 
servative.     Little  else  seems  to  have  been  gained.     The  old 
Crerman  qmescence  has  all  along,  either  from  apathv,  a  too 
ready  shirking  of  responsibility,  or  an  inertness  tJ  public 
thing*  growing  out  of  the  snaggles  for  the  mere  sustenance 
ot  Ijie,  in  the  old  settler,  (we  dare  not  say  a  disregard  of 
prmciple,)  and  inherited  by  his  sons,  and  an  almost  abieet 
reverence  for  book  learning  as  it  is  connected  with  a  law- 
yer  s  otiice,  growing  out  of  early  privations  and  discomforts 
and  the   practicable  efficiency  of  that   functionary  in    the 
business  of  title  deeds,  land  boundaries,  divisions  and  mort- 
gages,  giving  him  an  impression   that   the   mc  t   important 
atlairs  ol  the  country  were  bound   up  in  parchment,  and 
led  with  reti  tape  rather  than  the  training  and  exercise  of 
his  own   mental  functions.     At  what  can  a  country  ever 
am  in  which  such  a  spirit  is  fostered  ?     It  is  not  the  appli- 
bilityot  monarchical  administration  to  Colonial  life,  which 
we  question  as  much   as  the  crushing,  delegated  influence 
accompanying  it,  and  which  here  had  an  action  altogether 
unrestrained  by  the  cherished  thought,  and  established  gov. 
ermng  hteratnre  of  an   older  country.     For  the  genilemen 
ol  the  long  robe   have  been   the   presiding  deity  of  Nova 
ftcotia,  and  an  union   for  interested   purposes  must  create 
exclusiyeness.     Let  it  not  be  understood  that  learning  in 
•the  abstract  had  not  been  well  attended  to.     It  had  only  not 
become  a  vitally  diffusive  element.     Neither  was  the  phase 


s,  fictitious  ihougli 
als  to  her  petrified 
on  mud  and  water 
■  has  actually  corn- 
stuck  upwards. 

that  terrible  rail- 
hough  many,  too 
mingled  with   the 

lat  time,  well-nigh 
excitement  as  an 
B  weak,  wavering, 

the  Colony,  were 
t  bring  forth  fruit, 
vided  apparently, 

semblances,  that 
-liberal  and  Con- 
gained.  The  old 
•oni  apathy,  a  too 
ertness  to  public 

mere  sustenance 
ly  a  disregard  of 

an  almost  abject 
ected  with  a  law- 

and  discomforts, 
nctionary  in  the 
n'sions  and  mort- 

mc  t   important 

parchment,  and 

and  exercise  of 

a  country  ever 
:  is  not  the  appli- 
lonial  life,  which 
egated  influence 
iclion  altogether 
established  gov- 
)r  the  genilemen 
;  deity  of  Nova 
ses  must  create 
that  learning  in 

It  had  only  not 
'  was  the  phase 


i 


*      47 

of  science  unheeded,  undeveloped,  uniil  these,  our  own  times. 
Classical  schools  had  been  orgaiuzed  long  since,  and  the 
name  of  Halliburton  had  been  far  dispersed  in  either  hem- 
isphere. But  the  desideratum  was  still  unfilled.  There 
was  a  guiding  influence  unexisten*,  therefore  undisseminated. 
It  remained  to  be  proved  that,  if  existing,  there  would  be 
no  restraining  action.  An  indistinct  recollection  occurs 
upon  this  suggestion,  contemporary  with  "  Old  Cowdel's 
book."  Some  very  beautiful  stanzas,  emanating  from 
King's  College,  Windsor,  bearing  upon  local  and  ecclesias- 
tical topics,  suddenly  left  a  space  in  the  newspaper  columns 
to  be  filled  by  more  extraneous  matter.  Regretted  for  a 
time  by  those  who  were  attracted  by  their  novelty,  or  applica- 
bility, the  more  so  as  ihey  were  unfinished.  And  however 
brilliant  our  past  periods  may  have  been.  I  have  been  unable 
to  trace  any  other  occidental  clusterings  than  the  mofct  prim- 
itive style  of  rhyme  inscribed  upon  the  lichen  clustered  and 
half-sunken  tablets  of  old  slate  or  granite,  in  the  little  burial 
ground  of  L.,  where,  among  the  numerous  mementos  of 
Frau,  Mann,  and  Kindlien,  of  the  German  ancestry,  a  loi- 
terer may  suddenly  find  himself  face  to  face  with  a  more 
modern  and  striking  monument  of  poplar  wood,  whereupon 
the  brush  of  the  house-painter  has  inscribed  in  yellow  let- 
ters upon  a  cerulean  ground-work,  "  The  address  of  a  child 
to  its  parents  ;"  which,  from  its  peculiarity  of  composition, 
I  am  inclined  to  place  among  the  originalities  of  the  period. 
It  runs  thus',  and  speaks  largely  of  simple  and  deep  piety : 

"  Hark  from  the  tomb  a  doleful  sound, 

Mine  ears  attend  the  cry ; 
Ye  busy  men  come  view  the  spot 

Where  ye  must  shortly  lie. 

Weep  not  for  me,  my  parents'  dear, 
I  am  not  dead,  but  sleejwng  here ; 
Till  Christ  shall  rise,  and  bid  me  come, 
And  take  us  all  together  home." 

There,  in  this  little  grave-yard,  situated  upon  a  hill  over 
looking  a  large  extent  of  bay,  copst,  inlet,  green  slope,  and 
poHits  of  land,  with   distant  islets  dotting  the   intervening 
space,  and  in  which  rests  a  broken-hearted  and  injured  man 
—  my  own  father;  —  borne  down  by  the   intolerant   parti- 


I 


k 


48  ^ 

zanship  which  is  slo\rly,  but  und  ubtediy,  undermining  all 
the  sacred  and  social  institutions  of  our  land.  Hci'e  I  have 
often  stood,  and  with  an  October  sty,  gilded  and  glowing 
in  all  the  gorgeousness  of  carmine  and  deep  orange,  and 
the  sea  air,  clear  and  reflective,  gave  back  from  far  away  in 
the  distance  the  mingled  voices  of  human  beings  with  the 
bleating  of  sheep  and  the  lowing  of  cows,  wending  their 
homeward  way,  while  amid  the  windings  of  the  black 
harbor  or  peninsula,  (there  are  an  interminable  multiplicity 
of  such,)  and  all  do  not  possess  very  euphonious,  if  any, 
distinctive  appellation,  to  the  extent  of  four  miles,  incliid- 
ing  shelved  point,  jutty  curve,  and  grassy  eminence, 
ihroughout  this  extent  of  the  peninsula,  I  say,  so  intensely 
aid  vividly  transparent  has  been  that  sweet  October  atmos- 
phere, that  the  carolling  of  a  country  girl,  and  each  word 
of  the  following  old  song,  has  been  thrown  back  upon  the 
echoes. 

This  song,  I  am  positive,  must  be  a  native  production, 
and  of  provincial  origin,  though  it  may  have  received  acces- 
sories from  country  school-masters,  or  captains  of  gull's 
eggs  schooners,  sentimentally  inclined.  Bat  seriously  insti- 
tuted researches  among  t^3  farmers'  daughters,  guarantee 
the  assertion  that  it  was  made  by  some  of  our  folks.  The 
undoubted  authenticity  thus  warranted,  I  proceed  to  initiate 
the  reader  into  some  of  its  peculiar  beauties  and  deep  pathos. 
I  would  also,  if  I  could,  help  to  dig  a  niche  in  the' heart  of 
posterity,  for  the  express  purpose  of  inserting  the  name  of 
the  author,  that  it  might  spring  up  and  blossom  to  his  end- 
less  praise.  But  alas!  in  the  eager  appropriation  of  the 
spoils,  floral  and  sentimental,  it  has  been  totally  overlooked 

"  From  the  main-top  high,  to  the  cabin  low, 
Your  sailor-boy  away  must  go ! 
Now  all  young  maids  who  iress  in  white, 
And  all  young  men  who  ^\  dk  so  b'ght, 
Forget  your  ])ridc,  forget  your  joy, 
Weep,  weep,  for  the  sailor-boy. 

He  ran  fhe  deck,  he  climbed  the  mast. 
His  time  is  gone,  his  day  is  past, 
Do>vn,  down,  where  the  sea-weeds  grow, 
Your  sailor-boy  shall  go,  shall  go." 

The  subject  is     sailor-boy,  who  takes  his  first  voyage  ini- 


»*"■¥• 


undermining  all 
d.  Here  I  have 
ed  and  glowing 
leep  orange,  and 
Tom  far  away  in 
beings  with  the 
,  wending  their 
fs  of  the  black 
able  multiplicity 
(honious,  if  any, 
ur  miles,  includ- 
assy  eminence, 
say,  so  intensely 
October  atmos- 
and  each  word 
n  back  upon  the 

live  production, 
J  received  acces- 
plains  of  gull's 
t  seriously  insti- 
hters,  guarantee 
)ur  folks.  The 
Dceed  to  initiate 
ind  deep  pathos. 
e  in  the  heart  of 
ig  the  name  of 
ssora  to  his  end- 
jpriation  of  the 
ally  overlooked 


irst  voyage  ini- 


40 

tiatory  to  the  West  India  ports,  preparatory  to  engaging  in 
the  voyage  of  life  with  a  "fair  maid,"  who,  by  his  untimely 
fall  overboard,"  is  compelled  to  cease  *'  dressin*^  in  white  " 
and  assume  the  habil--ients  of  a  more  sombre  hue  Uomi 
the  news  of  wWch  f  i  catastrophe  arriving,  she  calls  in  he 
language  of  affecl-  upon  all  the  vnuth's  "compeers"  to 
join  m  her  lamentah  is,  and  for  man^y  a  day  has  the  simpk 
conclusion  of  the  ditty,  ringing  through  the  air,  rising  and 
swelling  in  the  distance,  and  the  fresh  voice  of  that  country 
maiden,  come  back  to  my  memory  in  sad  but  pleas'nff  nni 
son.  t-  6 

This  was,  in  my  opinion,  very  expressive  of  the  feeline^of 
the  early  settlers,  who,  finding  little  employment  for  ^row 
ing  sons,  in  a  country  that  presents  few  resources  for  voune 
men,  were  compelled  to  sacrifice  them,  one  after  the  other 
to  see  them  take  to  the  water  with  the  perversity  of  vounj 
crabs,  and  become  the  victims  of  fe  er  in  a  tropical  country 
The  song  had  a  medley  of  interests,  also,  as  it  was  in  part 
connected  with  an  island  in  the  neighborhood,  upon  which 
dwell,  (so  said  tratliiion  by  the  lips  of  a  nurse  girl  )  a  faith 
less  and  hard-hearted  maiden,  who  had  refused  the  addresses 
of  a  lover,  and  after  he  had  "  taken  to  the  sea  "  in  a  fit  of 
vengeance,  she  ruthlessly  "  combed  her  long  tresses"  before 
a  glass  each  returning  evening,  (a  sr.re  way  to  get  up  a 
sea  storm)  said  Granny  Wisdom.     And  in  a  terrific  gale 
aroused  by  this  process,  the  lover  "  found  his  death."    Upon 
which,  for  the  purpose  of  making  vengeance  doubly  ^ure 
he  takes  the  liberty  of  visiting  his  mistress  in  the  form  of  a 
coal  black  dog,  with  fiery  eyes,  until  terror  and  remorse 
place  his  vicL.a  in  an  early  tomb. 

By  going  into  all  this  absurd  detail,  I  may,  perchance 
/    give  some  inkhng  of  the  tenor  of  local  minds,  unswayed 
by  elevation.     To  say  truth,  ,'e  are  scarce  yet  beyond  the  era 
I   when  six  feet  high  young  ladies  rejoiced  in  the  ability  of 
carrying  home  a  d-ad  bear  upcn  their  shoulders,  and  didn't 
•      w?nt  no  larnin'  to  aid  the  difficulty."     When  such  treas- 
ure   as  old  Mrs.  Rushticross  stalked  through     ur  hon-^j 
fron.  basement  t    attic,  if  unimpeded  in  progress.     H.    jIq 
straw  poke  elevated  high  7n  the  air,  and  her  canvass  bag 
rich  in  woodland  wealth,  displayed  to  our  admiration  in 
mixed  hues,  partridges       ^      "       "  -     •  - 
rabbits,  and  oride  of  cat  mpnipv  nvers 


-\ ". 


60 

captured  salmon  ;  whose  advent  was  proclaimed,  and  whose 
praises  were  extolled,  with  the  sharp,  exulting  cries  of  "  a 
solimaint,  a  nice  vat,  vresh  solimaint.  Here !  ver  are  ye 
all  ?  Toant  yer  vant  a  vresh  solimaint,  only  tree  shillins  ? 
Tu* !  dats  noatten.     Tittn't  I  ketch  him  mineshelf  ?" 

Ladies  going  to  sociable  entertainments  jn  these  times 
took  a  favorable  opportunity  of  decrying  the  unheard-of 
absurdity  of  any  woman  but  the  "  parson's  wife  troubling 
her  head  about  books."  She,  to  be  sure,  ought  to,  if  she 
had  time.  Times  were  so  different  when  we  were  girls, 
said  rhe  matrons  ;  the  moment  one  took  up  a  book  she  v/as 
called  idle,  careless,  good-for-nothing.  And  no  great  pro- 
phetical prognostications  were  needed  to  convince  society 
that  such  an  one  was  in  the  road  to  destruction.  Then 
there  were  mysterious  gratulations  that  we  had  not  arrived 
at  the  height  of  absurdity,  with  our  neighbors  across  the 
bay,  where  the  ladies  actually  studied  all  <' the  things  with 
long  imes  "  and  hard  meanings,  and  took  degrees  at  col- 
lege ,  ist  as  gentlemen  did.  And  I  do  not  know  but  what, 
by  the  colloquiefi  of  the  male  oracles  of  these  anti-literary 
societies.  Becomingly  dipping  deeper  in  the  argument,  wc 
were  taught  how  much  we  were  indebted  to  our  stringent 
cdnservatisra  for  relief  from  such  impositions,  the  certain 
herald  of  infidelity,  and  the  dear  knows  what  all.  Thus, 
by  a  summary  process,  indicting  a  multiplicity  of  evils,  not 
quite  specified. 

Hcyever,  good  advice  always  acting  in  the  contrcry  n  od  in 
young  minds,  set  us  all  upon  emulating  the  stigmatizea  pro- 
ceedings, and  gay  young  men  while  chanf'mg  at  intervals,  "  dol, 
dol,  dol,  me,  re,  fa,  sol,"  at  the  singing  schools,  simultaneously 
echoed  the  sentiment,  "  They're  a  wbnde-ful  people  ;  they're 
an  astonishing  people  ;  they're  far  before  us  .'"  Yes  ;  they 
could  not  but  be  convinced  that  piogress,  in  a  new  country,  is 
conservative  ;  possesses  a  restraining,  as  well  as  a  life-giving 
energy.  Not  the  conservatism  which  elevated  an  Episcopal 
Bishop  to  the  pedestal  of  a  demi-god,  but  that  of  innate,  self- 
governing,  Pnd  well-directed  energy.  And  thi=«  we  are  subsist- 
ing, and  think  we  can  continue  to  flourish  without.  We,  in  ttie 
Colonies,  upon  whom  has  been  ent'.rafted  a.l  tiie  fashionable 
idleness  and  easy  laxity  of  morality,  inseparable  from  a  garrison 
station. 

It  is  not  surprising,  then,  that  ve  have  acquired  habits  oi 


laimed,  and  whose 
ulling  cries  of  *'  a 
Here !  ver  are  ye 
only  tree  shillins  ? 
nineshelf?" 
iits  jn  these  times 
ig  the  unheard-of 
n's  wife  troubling 
•e,  ought  tOj  if  she 
en  we  were  girls, 
up  a  book  she  v/as 
Lnd  no  great  pro- 
I  convince  society 
lestruction.  Then 
'e  had  not  arrived 
^hbors  across  the 
il  "  the  things  with 
)ok  degrees  at  col- 
3t  know  but  what, 
these  anti-literary 
the  argument,  wq 
I  to  our  stringent 
itions,  the  certain 
'  what  all.  Thus, 
)licity  of  evils,  not 

e  contrcry  n  od  in 
e  stigmatizea  pro- 
l  at  intervals,  "  dol, 
ols,  simultaneously 
il  people  ;  they're 
m  /"  Yes ;  they 
a  new  country,  is 
ill  as  a  life-giving 
ited  an  Episcopal 
bat  of  innate,  self- 
thi^  2ve  are  subsist- 
ihout.  We,  in  the 
iA  tiie  fashionable 
ble  from  a  garrison 

acquired  habits  oi 


51 

slurring  over  important  events  of  local  interest.     That  we  have 
a  natural  aversion  to  investigate  ;  to  think  deeply  ;  to  elev  ai 
principle,  by  permitting  it  to  pervade,  and  counteract,   to  ii*; 
fullest  extent. 

As  the  election  progressed  in  the  following  year,  and  the  cli- 
max was  well  nigh  attained,  as  has  been  remarked,  previous  to 
this  digression,  the  minds  of  the  general  populace  seemed  more 
than  usually  excited  by  all  the  causes  and  effects  at  work. 
Nothing  else  was,  of  course,  the  ruHng  topic  of  discussion,  and, 
as  usual,  every  newsnaper  teemed  with  accounts  concerning  it, 
but  there  was  evidently  an  all-pervading  influence,  which,  while 
it  seemed  to  overlook  the  merits  of  this,  or  that  party  man, 
swayed  and  controlled,  and  started  forward  unblushingly,  in  the 
least  suspected  positions.  Passing  over  all  the  vicious  recrimin- 
ations of  the  daily  papers,  and  tracing  the  virulence  to  its  origin, 
was  a  thing,  however,  not  to  be  looked  for,  in  the  unanalyzing 
public.  A  notice,  however,  was  no  more  than  might  be  ex- 
pected from  persons  who  were  mere  spectators,  whose  opinion 
was  unbiassed  by  personal  interest  relatively.  There  who 
had  neither  father,  husband  or  brother,  to  press  for  the  palm 
of  victory.  And  while  speaking  as  freely  as  did  others  in 
the  presence  of  visitors,  friends  of  our  literary  leader,  there 
might  have  been  nothing  in  the  circumstance  of  so  doing,  which 
in  any  other  country  would  have  been  excitable  of  a  recrimina- 
tory manifestation. 

Thus  the  mind  dwelling  upon  these  things,  it  was  not  surpris- 
ing that  I  should  also  write.  It  was  the  merest  trifle,  and  il  fell 
from  a  careless  pen.  Chancing  to  call  upon  a  female  connec- 
tion of  our  literary  Captain,  the  gentleman  previously  referred  to, 
who  was  then  deeply  immersed  in  politics,  bent  upon  rallying  his 
forces,  and  gaining  the  day  for  his  party.  "We  fell  into  a  long 
discussion  upon  the  ability  of  the  lower  classes  to  think  for 
themselves.  Tho  lady  maintained  th^t  as  they  had  to  get  their 
bread  by  hard  labor,  which  occupied  all  their  time,  they  should 
more  submissively  yield  to  the  guidance  of  those  who  sacrificed 
their  Avhcle  time  and  domestic  peace,  for  the  benefit  of  those 
under  special  consideration.  That  the  presumption  evident  in 
the  oppo'sition  of  j'.ich  persons  was  too  palpable,  in  the  present 
emergencies,  and  diffic-jlties  insurmountable,  except  by  the  in- 
dom'table  energy  of  a  statesman,  were  the  result  of  it. 

Attempting  to  modify  these  dangerous  plausibilities,  I  urged 
that  as  all  are  gifted  with  an  equaiiiy  of  intellect,   or  ])owp»- 


I_EifS'fl 


53 

which  may  be  cultivated  to  an  unbounded  extent,  and  frequently 
exhibited  in  the  lower  classes,  education  should  be  equally  dis'- 
pensed,  that  each  consequent  trait  might  be  permitted  to  display 
ijself.  People  capable  of  forming  accurate  conclusions  of  events 
or  principles  at  issue,  should  not  be  impeded  in  the  power  of  do- 
ing so  ;  but  that  the  too  prevalent  spirit  of  the  times  was  in  each 
peculiarity  a  convincing  evidence  that  other  literature  than  that 
which  has  been  the  Englishman's  preservation,  and  is  his  proud- 
est heritage  in  a  new  country,  had  been  taking  a  firm  hold  of  un- 
established  places.  It  was  clear  thai  the  progression  of  the 
century  was  urging  us  on,  and  casting  loose  our  coveted  conserv- 
atism. We  were  willing  to  clutch  at  anything  to  aid  tbe  rescue. 
Old  landmarks  were  removed,  to  clear  the  march  of  ultraism. 
Circumstances  might  in  future  times  show  the  tendency  of  this 
.  last,  and  our  advancing  attainments. 

I  am  never  deeply  interested  in  public  things  unless  they  elu- 
cidate some  accepted  theory,  and  seldom  display  a  warm  inter- 
est. Upon  this  occasion  I  spoke  as  1  felt,  and  upon  a  subse- 
quent visit  I  placed  the  following  verses  upon  Freedom  of 
Opinion,  in  the  hands  of  this  person,  with  an  intimation  that 
something  more  would  be  connected  with  it,  provided  I  could 
secure  the  countenance  of  gentlemen  interested  in  'eveloping 
the  literature  of  the  country,  and  the  one  particularly  and  pub- 
licly concerned  in  it,  as  I  very  naturally  supposed.  'Ihe  lines 
were  these : — 

Bright  Nova  Scotia,  adored  is  thy  n?ime, 

Thou  art  dearer  to  us  than  the  land  whence  we  came. 

Though  honored  by  all  is  the  home  of  the  Free, 

Nova  Scotia,  our  own,  we're  devoted  to  thee. 

Ever  my  country,  though  bitter  the  strife, 

Cherish  thy  liberty,  e'en  as  thy  life. 

Ay,  long  as  the  Moose-deer  shall  bound  from  the  brake, 

Or  the  Lutea  look  from  the  translucent  lake. 

Lovely  Acadia  shall,  error-arrayed, 

In  gorgeous  apparel  thine  Idol  be  made  ? 

Shall  it  always  the  land  of  the  ^layflower  disgrace. 

Shall  it  ever  be  found  amid  power  and  place  P 

Beautiful  Acadie,  ne'er  be  thy  name 

Dved  with  a  deep  an  indelible  stain. 

Alas  for  thy  sons,  though  tliey  ebb  as  the  wave, 

Opinion,  though  false,  they  would  perish  to  save. 

Beautiful  country — the  bonny  spruce  tree 

Is  the  undying  emblem  of  what  thou  wilt  be, 

When  the  tissue  of  folly,  that  error  lias  cast 

Around  thy  bright  name,  shall  be  thrown  to  the  blast. 


53 


Ktent,  and  frequently 
uld  be  equally  dis- 
)ermitted  to  display 
onclusions  of  events 
in  the  power  of  do- 
le times  was  in  each 
literature  than  that 
)n,  and  is  his  proud- 
g  a  firm  hold  of  un- 
progression  of  the 
)ur  coveted  conserv- 
ng  to  aid  the  rescue, 
march  of  nllraism. 
e  tendency  of  this 

igs  unless  they  elu- 
play  a  warm  inter- 
nd  upon  a  subse- 
jpon  Freedom  of 
an  intimation  that 
,  provided  I  could 
sted  in  'ev^loping 
rlicularly  and  pub- 
3os»ed.     'Ihe  lines 


we  came, 
'ree, 


I  the  brake, 


grace, 


ave. 


the  blast. 


Beloved  is  the  fir-tree,  but  dearer  to  thee 

And  to  all  of  thy  sons,  is  the  bliss  of  the  Free. 

But  oh  be  thy  liberty  worthy  the  name  • 

Freedom  from  Error,  from  Crime  and  from  Shame. 

Had  I  but  known  the  least  iota  of  what  1  hare  experienced 
of  the  policy  f  -sued  by  our  leaders,  my  safest  course  would 
have  been  the  cjstruction  of  these  lines,  the  moment  they  were 
penned.  But  utter  ignorance  led  me  to  imagine  the  liberalism 
so  vaunted  at  that  time  to  be  a  safe  remove  out  of  Roman  Catholic 
predominance  by  a  bond  which  would  draw  various  denominations 
into  a  closer  unity.  An  error  I  believe  very  common  among 
the  inexperienced  among  us.  I  anticipated  nothing  but  a  kindly 
notice  and  encouragement  to  proceed.  Simple  and  inexperi- 
ensed,  with  no  guide  but  a  too  accurate  observation.  Truly 
saith  the  law  "  truth  is  a  libel." 

The  lady  had  handed  them  to  her  friend,  it  appeared,  but 
nothing  more  was  said  than  that  a  man  in  his  position  could  not 
be  expected  to  notice  every  production  thrown  thus  before  him, 
as  he  was  surrounded  by  cares  and  electoral  responsibilities. 

As  I  peruse  them  now,  I  can  well  comprehend  how  each 
word  must  have  had  the  semblance  of  an  indirect  reproach. 
Not  a  line  that  does  not  seem  directed  at  the  very  course  that 
person  had  been  pursuing,  accompanied  by  able  coadjutors  and 
skilful  veteran  supporters.  At  that  time  half  their  applicability 
only  was  comprehended,  and  in  requesting  the  opinion  of  the 
gentleman  I  was  pleased  with  the  ability  of  adding.  They  form 
part  of  a  Romance  which  I  mean  to  compose.  People  who 
write,  have  now  so  much  encouragement,  that  I  almost  think  I 
could  venture  on  publishing. 

Now  let  me  ask,  can  a  political  editor  be  the  supporter  of 
literature,  or  what  is  the  position  literature  should  assume  in  a 
country  ?  If  it  bound  off  into  the  regions  of  fiction,  its  mission 
IS  unaccomplished,  if  that  mission  be  the  elevation  of  society. 
If  It  deal  with  tangible  evils,  the  subtle  band  of  the  statesman, 
or  the  ambitious  man,  can  be  no  longer -its  fostering  protector ! ! 
Is  It  so  ?  Is  he  then  to  check  its  advances,  when  the  attempt 
to  inculcate  sentiments  militating  against  his  projects  of  personal 
aggrandisement  is  made?  When  he  can  no  longer  aid,  must 
he  then  crush  ?  If  it  attack  an  evil  policy,  must  his  especial 
laction  be  heeded,  and  all  the  claims  of  literature  forgotten  ?  Oi' 
must  literature  breathe  the  sentiment  of  language  alone  ? 

Be  It  again  clearly  understood,  that  I  here  criminate  no  indi- 


54 


vidual.  ^  am  but  relating  a  succession  of  singular  coincidences. 
Ei»cioral  sentiments  had  subsided ;  the  feeling  that  had  led  to 
the  inditing  of  these  lines  had  passed  away.  The  liberals  had 
gained  the  day,  and  all  the  land  rejoiced  thereat.  But  it  hap- 
penedj  that  upon  leaving  the  steamer,  at  the  side  of  the  harbor 
at  which  I  resided,  I  found  several  ill-looking  fellows  apparently 
belonging  to  the  lower  class  of  Irish,  who  crossing  at  the  same 
time,  followed  half  the  distance,  calling  in  coarse,  low  lan- 
guage. Then  seating  themselves  upon  the  rocks  on  the  road- 
side, continued  to  do  so,  until  I  had  advanced  far  upon  the 
homeward  path.  The  way  was  lonely,  though  much  travelled 
and  frequently  there  were  no  other  persons  walking  that  way 
but  myself.  The  language  was  accompanied  by  loud  and  im- 
pudent merriment,  too  evidently  jests,  vulgar  and  insolent,  and 
indicating  personality. 

The  summer  passed  on,  with  frequent  returns  of  the  same  de- 
scription of  annoyance.  Endeavoring  to  persuade  myself  that 
it  really  was  not  an  actual  impertinence  seriously;,  intended,  I 
resolved  to  assume  a  pretence  of  not  noticing  it,  hoping  that  as  it 
had  commenced  at  the  close  of  an  election  which  had  been 
fiercely  contested,  and  excited  a  spirit  of  acrimony  among  all 
classes,  it  would  perchance  pass  away  when  the  eftect  of  such 
a  great  struggle  had  subsided.  But  I  had  had  no  connection 
with  political  affairs,  living  retired  and  monotonously,  without 
interest  in  either  party,  and  being  but  one  among  the  calm  spec- 
tators of  their  struggles.  However,  matters  continued  in  the 
same  position,  and  became  such  a  regularly  recurring  vexation, 
that  I  dreaded  coming  to  the  village  of  D.  or  crossing  in  the 
boat  at  all,  as  I  had  then  no  male  relative  at  band  to  interpose, 
and,  though  it  might  be  noticed  by  a  friend,  I  was  at  a  loss  as  to 
the  proper  measures  for  restraining  it,  and  for  reasons  to  be  men- 
tioned hereafter,  dreaded  speaking  of  it  to  any  person. 

A  year  passed  on,  and  the  annoyance  was  continued,  and  re- 
sumed at  intervals,  long  after  the  charitable  allowance  with  ref- 
erence to  electoral  agifation  which  1  partly  attributed  it  to, 
should  have  subsided.  At  all  events,  I  thought  no  longer 
of  it,  and  concluded  that  others  were  equally  disinterested. 
Gross  and  obscene  language,  infamous  oaths,  and  scurrilous  ex- 
pressions, became  the  almost  constant  attendants  upon  ray  daily 
waiK. 

Now  not  being  at  all  inclined  to  sacrifice  this  chief  entertain- 
ment of  life  at  D.,  the  amusement  of  watching  the  various  de- 


55 


ngular  coincidences. 

ng  that  had  led  to 

The  liberals  had 

■eat.     But  it  hap- 

side  of  the  harbor 

fellows  apparently 

ossing  at  the  same 

ti  coarse,  low  lan- 

Dcks  on  the  road- 

ced  far  upon   the 

gh  much  travelled 

walking  that  way 

1  by  loud  and  im- 

•  and  insolent,  and 

ns  of  the  samede- 
suade  myself  that 
ously.;  intended,  I 
t,  hoping  that  as  it 
which  had  been 
•imony  among  all 
be  eftect  of  such 
ad  no  connection 
tonously,  without 
ng  the  calm  spec- 
continued  in  the 
2curring  vexation, 
)r  crossing  in  the 
band  to  interpose, 
^as  at  a  loss  as  to 
•easons  to  be  men- 
■  person. 

iontinued,  and  re- 
lovvance  with  ref- 
attributed  it  to, 
lought  no  longer 
illy  disinterested, 
ind  scurrilous  ex- 
ts  upon  my  daily 

s  chief  entertain- 
ig  the  various  de- 


scriptions of  persons  bringing  their  saleable  wares  to  the  city  ; 
the  petty  traffic,  and  the  constant  variety  presented  thereby. 
The  Preston  trafficker  in  birch  brooms,  was  to  me  then  a  nov- 
elty. The  little  unshod  fisherman,  with  his  basket  of  trout,  or 
cucumber  perfumed,  and  crisp  little  smelt,  fresh  from  the  scoup- 
pet,  and  enwreathed  with  moss.  The  market-woman,  with  her 
eggs  and  butler;  the  fresh  air,  and  the  change  of  scene,  was  all 
this  to  be  foregone  and  constant  seclusion,  to  lay  the  foundation  of 
ill  health,  because  three  or  four  idle  fellows  were  always  loitering 
at  hand  with  the  evident  purpose  of  exciting  terror,  and  awak- 
ening alarm  ?  The  lower  classes  of  Nova  Scotia,  are,  without 
exception,  remarkable  for  th<j  kindly  friendship  they  bear  to 
those  of  an  elevated  class,  and  the  social  tone  and  kind  interest 
manifested  between  persons  occupying  various  positions,  is,  and 
always  has  been  to  myself  truly  delightful,  though  English 
residents  generally,  note  the  omission  of  the  obsequiousness 
which  is  said  to  chTvacterize  individuals  of  inferior  situation  in 
their  own  aristocratical  and  title-bestowing  country.  And,  we 
are  quite  happy  in  wanting  the  servility  of  the  Irish  peasant, 
though  doubly  amused  with  its  piebald  originality,  from  having 
no  semblance  of  it  amongst  themselves,  therefore  was  my  aston- 
ishment increased  at  such  an  unwontedmanifestation,  and  in  the 
midst  of  intense  and  uncontrollable  irritation,  various  suspicions, 
connected  with  rather  trivial  circumstances,  dawned  gradually, 
at  first,  unadmissible,  but  which  time  matured,  and  future  trans- 
actions verified,  and  I  resolved  not  to  deviate  from  my  usual 
habit,  and  to  cross  in  the  steamboat  without  any  companion,  that 
there  might  be  no  check  upon  my  observations,  and  if  any  de- 
sign of  evil  intentions  had  been  suggested,  and  was  to  be  carried 
out  by  this  class  of  persons,  I  would,  if  possible,  fathom,  and 
hiive  it. 

Of  the  grade  of  life  to  which  the  multiplicity  of  Irish  immi- 
grants belong  in  their  own  land,  we,  of  course,  can  be  guided 
only  by  conjecture.  For  a  succession  of  years  they  have  stepped 
upon  our  shores,  and,  unimpeded  in  their  progress,  have  built 
for  themselves  bonnes.  Their  sick  have  been  nurtured,  their 
starving  fed.  But  the  peculiar  benefit  to  the  country  bestowed 
by  their  presence,  is  yet  undiscernible.  By  steady  progress, 
they,  in  time,  possess  the  property,  and  fill  up  the  vacanules, 
which  untoward  circumstances,  or  too  deep  doings  in  politics, 
"  the  British,  or  anti-British  scape-goat"  leaves  among  our  own 
inhabitants. 


56 


These  people,  in  fact,  become  great  and  populous,  but  they 
are  uneducated  and  controlled  in  their  tendencies,  and  the  Irish 
cartman  might  take  a  very  prominent  position,  if  required- 
It  may  not  be  always,  altogether,  a  creditable  one,  social 
comfort  and  respectability  considered,  in  the  annals  of  Halifax. 

Having  beside  me  the  detached  portions  of  a  Poem  entitled 
"  Protestant  Union,"  and  never  venturing  to  exhibit  it.  the  idea 
now  occurred  that  if  it  were  published,  and  the  opinions 
expressed  in  it  were  known  and  disseminated  as  my  composition, 
it  would,  being  acknowledged  as  such,  guarantee  a  future  protec- 
tion. It  would  have  the  semblance  ol  an  appeal  to  established 
principle,  and,  connected  with  local  literature,  would  not  pass 
unnoticed  by  the  various  gentlemen  who  were  so  deeply  inter- 
ested in  its  development,  according  to  their  o\^  expressed  as- 
sertions. 

I  passed  the  Poem  partially  prepared  into  the  hands  of  a 
friend,  without  any  intimation  of  reasons  for  publishing  it.  This 
was  at  the  commencement  of  another  winter.  It  appeared  in  a 
Baptist  newspaper,  was  noticed,  and  though  without  signature, 
there  was  not  a  doubt  that  it  was  known  and  traced  to  the  author, 
and  upon  the  next  Session  of  the  Assembly,  I  was  struck  with 
amazement  at  observing  in  a  newspaper,  lengthy  oratorial  remarks 
adverse  in  character,  but  containing  very  succinct  allusions  to 
those  lines  from  the  great  promoter,  supporter,  and  chidftain  of 
Provincirl  literature. 

The  uncomfortable  sensation  which  accompanied  this  discov- 
ery, I  even  now  remember.  It  was  also  with  a  presentiment  of 
fulure  evil,  for  the  entire  intention  and  meaning  of  the  lines  had 
been  parodied,  and  various  concise  points  and  references  con- 
vinced me  that  the  author  was  surreptitiously  maligned  and  ridi- 
culed. 1  flung  the  paper  from  me  disgusted,  mortifitd,  and  as 
much  perplexed  and  confounded  as  though  detected  and  identi- 
fied in  the  commission  of  a  criminal  transaction.  There  was  no 
longer  a  doubt  that  a  peculiar  tendency  in  composition  was  repre- 
hensible. The  impression  had  not  arisen  in  a  fastidious  sensi- 
tiveness, as  I  sometimes  endeavored  to  satisfy  myself  by  personal 
condemnation. 

This  poem  upon  Protestant  Union,  remains  still  in  an  unfin- 
ished state,  I  never  having  gained  sufficient  confidence,  after 
such  a  rebuff  to  attempt  the  further  completion  of  it.  It  will 
serve  as  a  continuation  of  that  phase  of  colonial  society,  which 
attributed  all  the  backwardness  of  our  local  affairs  to  the  old 


conserva 
the  ultra 
and  pro^ 
and  railr 
done  aw£ 
grand  so 

There 
opinions 
wanted  t 
might  h£ 
this  latte 
plifying  i 
to  be  alv 
time  of 
regarded 
vanceme 
enquire  \ 

The  s( 
wif'i  the 
in  our  lo; 
cumstanc 
the  counl 
spirit  of 
dreamed 
3cotia,  IT. 
out  all  ot 
existence 
and  mok 
ened  our 
a  fantasy 
thousand 
such  a  fa 
spirit  of  ( 
saries  coi 

There 
luminous 
which  pe 
portance, 

A  pub 
the  prese 
elecled  a 
As  one  o 


m 


conservative  supineness.  And  the  people  were  taught  to  look  to 
the  ultra  liberalism  rising  in  the  horizon  as  the  harbinger  of  plenty 
and  progress.  Under  this  administration  were  telegraphic  wires 
and  railroads  to  abound  ;  school  monopolies  of  land  were  to  be 
done  away  with,  and  thus  would  be  dissolved  in  oblivion  one 
grand  source  of  disputation. 

There  was  no  longer  to  be  a  coerciveness  respecting  religious 
opinions  being  inculcated  in  seminaries  or  schools.  Those  who 
wanted  the  Bible  for  an  ancient  study,  connected  with  history, 
might  have  it,  and  those  who  did  not,  might  do  without  it,  and 
this  latter  system  was  recommended  and  acted  upon,  as  exem- 
plifying the  theory  that  it  is  better  to  have  no  religion  at  all  than 
to  be  always  fighting  about  it,  so  that  the  least  intimation  at  that 
time  of  a  leaning  to  denominational  preference,  was  generally 
regarded  as  placing  a  stumbling-block  in  the  way  of  our  ad- 
vancement, though  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  one  stopped  to 
enquire  what  we  expected  to  get  to.* 

The  somnolent  reign  of  Toryism,  very  comfortably  dispensed 
with  the  spirit  of  inquisitiveness,  and  we  reposed  so  confidently 
in  our  loyalty,  that  I  doubt  whether  persons  m  respectable  cir- 
cumstances ever  gave  a  thought  to  the  possibility,  or  need,  of 
the  country's  making  a  progress  of  any  description  ;  and  as  to  a 
spirit  of  rivalry,  or  competition  with  other  countries,  we  never 
dreamed  of  such  a  thing.  The  blue  horizon  shutting  in  Nova 
Scotia,  might  have  marked  the  boundaries  of  the  world  shutting 
out  all  other.  1  doubt  whether  we  would  have  believed  in  its 
existence,  had  not  the  ocular  and  gustatorial  evidence  of  sugar 
and  molasses  from  Jamaica,  and  salt  to  cure  our  cod-fish  awak- 
ened our  credibility.  I  can  answer  for  one  who  nourished  such 
a  fantasy,  and  am  certain  others  might  have  been  counted  by 
thousands,  who  did  so;  not  actual  infidels,  perhaps,  in  regard  to 
such  a  fact,  but  our  blue  skies  seemed  to  nourish  a  boundless 
spirit  of  Contentment,  which  the  positive  want  of  a  life's  neces- 
saries could  alone  disseminate. 

There  was  also  another  little  occurrence  connected  with  the 
luminous  era  of  mental  developement,  under  consideration,  to 
which  personal  experience,  and  participation,  lent  additional  im- 
portance. 

A  public  soiree  had  been  apjiointed.  The  intention  is  not  to 
the  present  purpose.  The  entire  liberal  coterie,  and  newly 
elected  advocates  for  such  principles,  honored  it  in  full  conclave. 
As  one  of  the  chief  speakers,  at  all  events  the  most  unexpected 


58 


and  appreciated,  appeared  a  Catholic  Priest.  This  gentleman 
whom  I  shall  hereafter  allude  to,  was  regarded  as  a  person  of 
much  address  and  ability,  and  had  been  known  to  take  a  prom- 
inent part  in  the  late  election,  and  his  oration,  whatever  might 
have  been  its  tendency,  was  reverently  listened  to. 

Among  the  other  speakers,  was  a  gentleman  who  held   for 
some  years  a  position  as  speaker  of  the  assembly,  and  an  impor- 
tant constituency  had  highly  valued  his  kindly  services.     He  dis- 
coursed  voluminously  upon   the  beauties  of  science  and  art,  in 
general,  their   incalculable  benefit  to  civilization,  but  gave  the 
preference  to  literature.     To  the  original  mind  which  can  control 
a  country  by  a  word,  or  a  song,  Burns  was,  of  necessity,  instan- 
ced, together  with  the  local  language  of  the  age,  guiding,  pro- 
gressive, and  purifying  in  its  influences.     The  needed  aid  of 
woman  in  this  department,  and  her  beneficence  was  also  instanced, 
in  her  promotion  of  the  cause  of  general  education,  and  encour- 
aging motives  held  forth  whjfcsuch  a  feeling  should  be  exemplified 
in  the  women  of  Nova  Scotia.     In  the  exordium  whic'  of  course 
concluded  such  observations,  however,  the  passive  serenity  with 
which  I  heard  all  this  was  rather  discomposed,  by  the  ideas;  ex- 
pressed  in   the  very  lines  upon  the  Freedom    of  Conscience, 
which  had  been  given  in  manuscript,  being  dexterously  interwov- 
en, for  the  purpose  of  working  analogy.     Well  nigh  the  entire 
passage  expressing  our  love  for  the  land  from  whence  we  came, 
(by  which,  of  course,  I  mean  England,  said  the  speaker,)  being 
superceded  by  the  lovely  country  in  which  our  destiny  had  beed 
cast.     The  value  of  a  patriotic  spirit,  our  admiration  of  our 
country's  emblem,  referring  to  the  fir-tree,  all  worked  so  well 
into  his  own  direct  subject,  that  though  the  charge  of  peculation 
may  be  unfounded,  I  was  far  from  being  gratified  that  such  ex- 
pressed opinions  were  thus  noted  at  a  time  when  the  state  of 
the  public  mind  was  not  at  all  conciliatory  or  complimentary.  The 
idcds  r-ay  have  been  native,  but  the  language  in  which  they 
were  expressed,  was  but  too  familiar. 

Now  the  Poem,  on  Protestant  Union,  was  as  far  from  tending 
to  elevate  any  sect  as  the  greatest  Liberal  could  desire.  It  was 
not  the  Church  of  a  Denomination  I  had  desired  to  extol,  but  the 
Church  Militant.  Not  the  time-serving  and  venal  Church  of 
the  Colonies,  but  the  Apostolical ;  the  holy  in  simplicity  ;  the 
revivified  in  youthful  lustre,  rising  from  the  Reformation  ;  the 
blood-drops  of  agony,  yet  resting  upon  her  pallid  and  torture - 
wrung  brow.     When  the  newly  established  monarchy  put  forth 


its  strong 
came  strt^ 
the  other 
of  the  pa 
the  estal 
world,  si 
had  been 
The  time 
will  depe 
become  d 
ments  wl 
ing  too  a| 

It  is  bi 
All  tne  SI 
perverted 
Hence  th 
also  incu 
pravity  c< 
dangerou 
such  writi 
lot  of  th( 
gions  will 
ics  are  ui 

By  CO 
been  for 
of  phant! 
the  most 
been  just 
company 
traducem 

Thus  i 
persed  h 
growth  o 
dispositio 
blinding  i 
that  is  ri^ 
leaders,  j 
The  adv( 
rous  forc( 
settler,  v 
scholar  p 
lects,  (pa 


n 


59 

its  strong  riglit  arm  to  aid  her  faltering  jps,  and  the  union  be- 
came strength  ;  one  elevating,  one  rp  .raining,  and  each  aiding 
the  other,  in  the  beautiful  dissemir  aion  of  holiness  to  the  land 
of  the  pagan,  and  to  the  scalterer  sons  of  England.  When  by 
the  establishment  of  Christian  rssociaiions  in  every  part  of  the 
world,  she  sought  to  alleviate  the  stringency  of  measures  she 
had  been  compelled  to  adopt  for  her  own  internal  preservation. 
The  time  is  arriving,  whether  very  subsistence  as  a  Church, 
will  depend  upon  a  renewal  of  that  renovation.  Her  lustre  has 
become  dim  ;  her  wine  mixed  with  water  ;  and  by  the  very  ele- 
ments which  wrought  her  conservation,  is  her  humiliation  becom- 
ing too  apparent. 

It  is  but  the  nature  of  humanity  to  retrograde  in  holiness. 
All  ttie  supports^  all  the  aids  to  high  attainments,  may  become 
perverted,  and  exliibit  the  fallaciousness  of  human  institutions. 
Hence  the  value  of  a  literature,  which,  while  exhibiting  error, 
also  inculcates  sacred  and  revealed  truth.  Hence  al.so  the  de- 
pravity connected  with  all  things,  decries  the  spirii  of  such  a 
dangerous  capability,  and  would  reward  the  daring  author  of 
such  writings,  not  only  with  the  destitution  which  is  too  often  the 
lot  of  the  well-intentioned,  but  with  a  comfortable  abode  in  re- 
gions where  the  means  of  expressing  opinion  upon  earthly  top- 
ics are  unattainable. 

By  consequence,  then,  the  literature  of  the  province  has 
been  for  the  most  part  vague  and  diffuse,  dealing  with  subjects 
of  phantasy.  If  error  has  been  touched  upon,  it  has  been  by 
the  most  complete  partizanship.  Our  newspaper  reading,  has 
been  just  one  continued  strain  of  recrimination,  with  all  the  ac- 
companying resources  of  attack  anjj  defence,  and  strategy,  and 
traducement. 

Thus  grew  up  that  latitudinarian  ignorance,  now  being  dis- 
persed by  a  larger  extension  of  periodical  importations.  A 
growth  of  reading  tendencies  which  will  gradually  dissipate  that 
disposition  of  exclusiveness  and  narrow-minded  egotism,  so 
blinding  to  those  incapable  of  investigation,  so  subversive  of  all 
that  is  righteous.  As  a  country  can  advance  in  nothing,  while 
leaders,  and  their  partizans,  are  alternately  defending  themselves 
The  adverse  of  this  spirit  has,  by  the  bye,  assumed  a  very  ludi 
rous  force  of  expression,  in  the  old  German  language  of  the  early 
settler,  which  thus  self-acclaims,  while  arraigning  the  unhappy 
scholar  placed  in  his  vicinity,  as  a  guider  of  his  children's  intel- 
lects, (pass  over  the  much  maligned  nomenclature  of  country 


n 


60 


schoolmaster,)  and  whom  with  triumphant  viciousness,  he  thus 
momently  attacks,  upon  the  least  glimpse  of  what  appears  to 
his  criticising  mind  unjustifiable  arrogance  becoming  discernible. 
"  Yer  needn't  tink  so  much  ev  yerself  kos  yer  got  a  little  larnin, 
yer  didn't  get  it  yerself  did  yer  ?  No  ;  yer  had  ter  get  it  tort. 
So  I  tinks  ji'^t  every  bit  as  much  ev  myself  as  you  do,  kos  I 
aint  got  any  ;  for  ef  I'd  a  bin  tort,  I'd  a  had  it  too ;  so  you 
needn't  ter  be  so  proud,  an  stuck  up. 

Just  so  the  Church  of  England  assuming  a  Spiritual  leader, 
upon  ner  advocated  dignity,  her  ancient  honors,  her  monarchi- 
cal heritage,  and  established  suprtmacy,  the  precedence  of  all 
others  in  the  Colonies,  little  heeded  the  growing  force  which  si- 
lently sapped  her  foundation.  Or  where  her  laxity  of  active 
encouragement  in  the  inculcation  and  advance  of  faith  in  distant 
localities  became  unavoidable,  wondered  when  the  vacuum  was 
capably  filled  by  dissenters,  and  bitterly  lamented  her  wounded 
dignity. 

That  these  allusions  may  be  correctly  corroborated,  it  is  requi- 
site to  give  some  general  explanation  respecting  the  social  posi- 
tion, and  the  religious  liabilities  of  the  country. 

A  large  body  of  Episcopalians  appointed  officially  by  the 
British  government  had  become  established  and  influential. 
They  had,  since  the  settlement  of  Halifax,  obtained  all  the  most 
lucrative  situations,  and  they  received  exorbitant  salaries.  Wheth- 
er England  sought  to  secure  our  loyalty,  or  to  protect  us  from 
the  insidiodsness  of  papacy  by  the  presence  of  a  number  of 
persons  connected  with  the  establishment,  can  only  be  surmised. 
Either  way,  the  project  was  fallacious.  The  Episcopal  Church, 
with  its  grants  of  land,  and  its  Provincial  endowment,  soon  be- 
came an  obnoxious  stumbling-stone  to  all  parties.  Provincial 
and  civil  offices  were  retained  in  families,  and  Nova  Scotia  was 
governed  by  a  clique,  who,  under  the  name  of  High  Church  and 
Tory  men,  usurped  all  power,  p'^sition  and  influence.  That 
the  benefit  bestowed  upon  society  by  them,  was  not  commensu- 
rate with  the  wealth  they  received,  and  squandered,  the  present 
backward  position  of  the  country  evinces,  and  the  firm  hold  of 
Papal  Liberalism  confirn^s.  It  was  under  their  mild  and  som- 
nolent occupation,  that  the  sapling  flourished,  bloomed,  and 
produced  the  fruit  of  which  this  country  is  even  now  partaamg. 

An  English  writer  has  said  that  Dissenters  are  the  protectors 
of  the  liberties  of  a  people.*  It  may  be  that  the  spirjt  of  truth 
remains  with  simplicity.     It  is  certain  that  truth  is  often   over- 


looked, 
amusing 
present 
cent  acq 
science 
when  tl 
on  their 
occupiec 
the  rese 
schools  I 
vious  wii 
those  foi 
with  mil 
let  them 
them  ;  \ 
Catholic 
sense  of 
er  lone, 
tain  the 
ill  whpt 

A  gr€ 
length,  I 
(he  caus 
hearts,  a 
There  v 
and  of  c 
and  a  cli 

A  gre 
It  was  l;i 
aloft;  it 
touched 
Too  mu 
accompli 

Then 
An  unitj 
able  age 
come  foi 
der,  thei 
viled,  an 
for  oppn 
an  aspec 
submissii 


iS--^. 


61 

looked,  while  quietly  gaining  ground.  It  would  be  almost 
amusing,  were  it  not  blended  with  painful  experiences  at  the 
present  time,  and  sad  presages  for  the  future,  to  trace  the  inno- 
cent acquiescence  of  those  old  worthies,  the  Tories,  of  con- 
science matters  for  peace  and  office  sake.  There  was  a  time 
when  the  native  Indian  taken  under  their  shield,  depended 
on  their  favor,  and  looked  to  them  for  cultivation.  These  fiiSi 
occupied  their  soil  as  promulgators  of  Protestantism,  but  in  time 
the  reserved  seats"  at  the  Parish  Churches  were  vacated,  the 
schools  deserted,  and  indifference  unaccountable,  succeeded  pre- 
vious warmth.  Speaking  of  this  to  one  of  the  descendants  of 
those:  fortunate  beings  who  had  inherited  position,  he  exclaimed 
with  mingled  terror  and  respect,  and  veneration,  "  Oh,  we  must 
let  them  alone ;  we  must  not  think  of  getting  up  schools  for 
them  ;  we  must  do  nothing  with  them."  They  belong  to  the 
Catholics.  But  the  diiSenting  part  of  society  arousing  to  a 
sense  of  injustice,  have  long  ere  this  began  to  enquire  in  a  firm- 
er lone,  nnd  with  a  decisive  determinaiion  to  partake  in  and  sus- 
tain the  claim  to  equal  privileges,  whose  are  the  Catholics,  and 
ill  whpt  is  their  much  landed  power  vested  ? 

A  great  accession  of  Irish  immigrants,  gradually,  and  at 
length,  flooded  the  territory.  Loud  complaints  of  suffering  in 
Uie  cause  of  unjust  mother  England,  carried  conviction  to  our 
hearts,  and  awakened  the  sympathies  of  every  Nova  Scotian. 
There  was  room  enough  and  place  for  all  who  chose  to  take  it, 
and  of  course  it  was  taken,  but  the  effect  was  yet  To  be  seen, 
and  a  change  of  policy  soon  became  perceptible. 

A  great  and  bitter  cry  against  ecclesiastical  monopoly  arose. 
It  was  lakeu  up,  and  reverberated  on  all  sides.  It  was  lilted 
aloft ;  it  knew  not  where  to  fall ;  it  ^hesitated,  but  at  length  it 
touched  the  right  quarter,  and,  at  the  same  lime,  the  wrong  one. 
Too  much  was  attempted  ;  it  was  hindered,  and  nothing  was 
accomplished. 

There  were  two  ways  of  destroying  ecclesiastical  monopoly. 
An  unity  of  Dissenters  or  a  powerful  majoriiy,  headed  by  an 
able  agent  and  spokesman.  By  one  step  Papal  power  could 
come  forward  openly  and  level  its  shrinking  opponent.  No  won- 
der, then,  that  Protestant  union  was  scouted,  aspersed  and  re- 
viled, and  that. every  supporter  of  such  a  scheme  was  marked 
for  opprobrium.  Dissenters,  to  whom  this  Episcopacy  presented 
an  aspect  of  intolerance,  willingly  acceded  to  the  scheme  for  its 
submission,  without  refleciing  on  the  consequences,  or  by  whom 


62 

It  was  brought  about,  ar.d  all  wl)o  expressed  an  attachment  to 
the  Church  of  England,  were  regarded  as  opponents  of  pr  jg- 
less  My  own  father  was  one  among  the  many  who  at  hat 
time'  became  obnoxious  to  anxious  claimants  for  change  of  sys- 
tem, and  sank  into  an  untimely  grave,   broken   in   heart,    in 

health,  and  hope.  ,•/-..       u    • 

His  open  and  boasted  attachment  to  this  Church,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  position  as  Collector  of  Customs  and  Excise,  m  a 
little  sea-porl  village,  gave  him  great  influence.     K  also  gave  l.im 
watchful  enemies,  with  a  double  purpose  of  casting  a  slur  upo-. 
the  denomination  of  his  altachnnent,  while  assuming  that  office, 
whHe  his  Englishman's  abhorrence  of  dissent  left   him  w.thou 
advocates,  when  this  disguised  R'  ..anism  stepped  forward,  and 
by  its  aueuts,  who  happened  to  be  his  most  cherished   friends, 
then  rising  into  power,  as  this  work  amply   testifies,  brought   o 
his  charge  sundry  malversations,  whereby  he  wa^renderec  liable 
for  some  hundreds  of  pornds.     Strange  and  unfounded  charges 
thus  laid  against  him,  he  was  compelled  to  succumb  to,  by  reason 
of  papers  of  v^lue  being  secretly  abstracted  from  his  office  desk, 
which  would  have  substantiated   his  innocence,  had  they  been 
forthcoming.     With  apparent  devotedness,  he  was  advised   to 
make  up  the  sum,  hand  it  in  to  the  Treasury,  and  say  nothing 
about  it.     This  first,  was  to  him  the  simplest  part  of  the  busi- 
ness     The  money  was  as  dross,  in  comparison  with  his  integrity 
of  purpo.<?,  his  life-long  resolution  never  to  owe  unto  any  man. 
But  why  silence  the  affair?     Why   arrange  every  thing  by  tw^ 
or  three  interested  individuals  with  evidently  deep  designs?     .» 
was  in  vain  that  he  protested  that  he  was  tlie  victim  of  a  plot. 
That  he  was  surrounded  by  false  friends.     He  was  constrained 
to  submission  by  d"- Terent  harrassing  measures,  and  when  years 
had  passed  away,  again  the  same  charges  were   preferred,  the 
same  procedure  carried  into  effect,  and  he  was  a  ruined  man. 
The  appointed  delegates,  after  due  assumption  of  form,  assem- 
bled,  but  after  a  strict  examination  of  the  various  statements  of 
monetary  transictions  and  accounts,  couH  fasten  no  reliable  evi- 
dence of  criminatu-g  inadvertence.     Too  late,   for  the  peace  ol 
their  victim  was  it  acknowledged,   that   general  testimony  con- 
ceded, in  vindication,  the  remissness  of  individuals  m  other  Forts 
of  the  Province,  reflecting  upon  each  department  a  fractional 
disarraniiement.     The  charge  of  five  hundred  pounds  defalca- 
tion, dwindled  down  to  tuo  ,  and  one  hundred,  to  seventy,  anu 
lastly   to  fifty  ;  with  which  sum,  as  being  unsubstantiated  as  a 


4 


debt,  he  wi 
other,  who 
ting  the  V( 
Too  ill  and 
posterous, 
tors,  and  e 
expose  him 
ward  of  tu 
accuracy  ol 

Disgus^e 
idence,  he 
was  detain* 
ation,  by  tl 
very  suspic 
,he  place  ii 
able  for  th( 
has  been  Ic 

This  wa 
tion,  givinc 
which  com 
by  intense 
the  partake 
from  the  sc 
♦'on  to  hea 
>.  -e  tardy  i 
position,  bi 
any  wh-./ 
Iropolis. 
watched  fc 
an  occupai 

Become 
mentioned 
'defending 
supposed  t 
cision  as  ti 
erally  kno 
was  the  cc 

The  mo 
plicitly  cor 
it  certainly 
nation  oi  ( 
and  a  help 


68 

debt,  he  wa**  kindly  advised  by  one  friend  to  present  tc  the 
other,  who  nad  so  disinterestedly  taken  the  trouble  of  investiga- 
ting the  volume  of  shipping  reports  and  ofiiv  'tl  donuments. 
Too  ill  and  unnerved,  to  resist  any  proposition,  however  pre- 
posterous, he  acceded  ;  too  happy  to  be  spared  by  his  tormen- 
tors, and  escape  lurther  infliction  of  their  pertinacious  efforts  to 
expose  him  io  public  censure.  And  fifty  pounds  was  the  re- 
ward of  turning  over  volumes  of  statements,  which  the  habitual 
accuracy  of  a  correct  arithmetician  had  L. ,  without  an  error. 

Disgu8^ed  with  his  official  position,  and  with  his  place  of  res- 
idence, he  was  not  even  permitted  to  resign  and  leave  it.  He 
was  detained  in  the  very  spot  of  his  trials,  and  his  hitter  humili- 
ation, by  this  most  remarkable  and  singular,  at  the  same  time, 
very  suspicious  assertion,  "  if  you  resign  your  office,  and  leave 
,he  place  in  which  you  reside,  you  will  render  yourself  account- 
able for  the  entire  origma!  sum  oi  money,  the  default  of  wh  ich 
has  been  laid  to  your  charge." 

This  was  from  the  most  active  agent  in  this  strange  transac- 
tion, giving  the  intention  of  his  employers,  but  the  two  years 
which  comprised  the  commencenieni  and  completion  of  it,  had, 
by  inteiise  menial  agony,  of  which  only  his  own  family  were 
the  partakers  and  witnesses,  done  their  work.  Again,  removal 
from  the  scene  of  so  much  suffering,  was  implored.  Restora- 
♦'on  to  health,  even  life,  depended  upon  it,  and  while  awaiting 
V  -e  tardy  avowal  which  bound  hirii  ibr  one  year  more,  to  public 
position,  but  only  nominally  so,  or  limited  his  choice  of  residence 
any  wh-  •  in  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotiu,  extilusive  of  its  me- 
tropolis. Paralysis  supervened,  and  greedy  aspirants  eagerly 
watched  for  lh3last  breath,  which  would,  in  its  failing,  bestow 
an  occupancy. 

Become  utterly  incapable,  by  the  recurrence  of  the  above- 
mentioned  demoniacal  manceuvreings  of  official  business,  or  of 
'defending  his  name  from  malignant  aspersion,  it  might  have  been 
supposed  that  his  stern  Ibes  would  relax,  and  withdraw  their  de- 
cision as  to  his  choice  of  residence,  but  not  until  it  became  gen- 
erally known  that  his  injured  circumstances  prohibited  this  step, 
was  the  concession  madco 

The  motives  for  Such  a  course  of  proceeding,  were  never  ex- 
plicitly comprehended  or  explained.  I  owever,  the  tendency  of 
it  certainly  finished  the  work,  which  the  most  admirable  combi- 
nation of  duplicity  and  desigi?ing  rnanoeuvre  had  cor.iiiericed, 
and  a  helpless  family  were  deprived  at  the  same  lime  of  a  father, 


64 

and  a  large  portion  of  their  inlieritance,  thus  unjustly    md  dis- 
honorably disputed. 

The  singular  coincidence  of  circumstances  upon  each  occa- 
sion, was  equally  remarkable.  The  precise  paper  missing  at  the 
very  period  of  requirement ;  the  wearisome  day  of  agony  spent 
in  searching  it  out';  the  piles  of  documents  examined  for  that 
purpose,  the  opened  drawer?  and  desks;  the  slowly  admitted 
confirmation  of  duplicity  ;  the  suspicious  person  who  had  idly 
loitered  about  the  office  the  entire  day  previous  to  the  discover- 
ed deficiency,  with  uo  apparent  pujpose  but  that  of  passing  an 
unoccupied  space  of  time  in  trivial  conversation ;  the  grasping 
ai  my  evidence  which  might  convic  this  person,  and  recover 
the  missing  document  *  and  the  knowledge  that  it  could  not  have 
beenusefufto  this  man  in  any  way^  but  as  an  instrument  o(  im- 
peachment, when  inquiry  was  instituted  by  persons  in  authority. 
AH  the  after  years  of  broken  health,  and  domestic  derangement 
accruing,  left  too  indelible  an  impression  of  tergiversation  and 
chicanery,  in  controlling  powers,  that  constant  suspicion  of  the 
same  system  working  in  difFerenI  ways,  and  by  other  means, 
could  not  ever  be  doubted,  and  outweighed  the  value  of  a  thous- 
and Colonial  civil  offices.  .....  ... 

Was  there  not  a  more  merciful  method  of  disnnssmg  a  public 
servant  than  this  ?  Was  reputation  to  be  assailed  in  ".s  entire 
sensitiveness,  and  the  victim  to  be  thus  compelled  to  a  hated  po- 
sition and  residence,  until  life  was  unendurable,  to  prevent  all 
these  facts  becom.ing  common  topics,  and  casting  a  reflection  of 
mal-adminislration  ?  Oris  this  a  system  which  is  fast  being  es- 
tablished, that  a  necessary  change  cannot  take  place  ofHcially, 
without  the  aid  of  the  blackest  malignity,  sweeping  in  Us  on- 
ward course,  alike  the  friend  or  the  rival,  the  relative  and  the 
stranirer  into  untimely  graves?  Or  by  officious  time-servers  is 
denominational  predominance  thrown  into  the  scale  of  advance- 
ment, and  made  the  foundation  of  destruction  ! 

Let  Nova  Scotia  beware,  and  learn  discernment  by  past  ex- 
perience. If  the  destruction  of  Chrisliaaity  be  not  already 
wrought  by  overlooking  such  transactions,  which  have  so  multi- 
plied, she  is  thus  surely  undermining  all  the  bonds  of  society. 


